Daniel Leaves College, begins showing Bipolar Systems
Shortly after persuading his parents to let him return home, he made notes (and drew comic strips) detailing his plans […]
Daniel struggles at College at ACU
In August of 1979 Daniel arrived in Abilene for a 2-week freshman orientation. By this time his sister, Sally, had
Summer After High School Graduation
In the summer following his graduation from high school he got a guitar but soon returned to the piano: “After
Daniel’s Senior Year and Struggle with Depression
During high school, Daniel expressed suicidal ideation in writing[1] and in very private conversations with Dave Lyons (the patriarch of
Dead Dog’s Eyeballs and Daniel’s Mother
Looking back, he smiled when he referred to his senior year at Oak Glen, as the “Year of the Dead
Daniel in the 11th Grade
One day in his junior year, he remarked on Ron Harris’s Beatles t-shirt and they become fast friends. Until meeting
Daniel Begins making music with Tom Gruda
The following story is very much in dispute. Tom told us this story when we were in WV, but I
Daniel in 10th Grade
In 10th grade, Daniel discovered The Beatles. He reported that he felt “saved” and that The Beatles “saved my soul.”[1]
Daniel continues writing comic strips
By age 15, his skills as a cartoonist were rapidly evolving, as evidenced in contemporaneous notebooks.[1] Daniel began high school
Daniel in Highschool
Dick and Daniel do many creative projects together, including film-making. “It Must Be Monday” produced; mother having provided a film
Daniel has falling out with best friend
In 9th grade Daniel had a falling out with his “best friend,” Randy Yost. Randy Kemper related the following story
Daniel begins struggles with depression
Daniel leaves elementary school, begins junior high (Jr grades 7-9). Junior high begins Daniel’s depression. Mabel takes Daniel to counselors.
Daniel Stops Piano Lessons
After practicing for a year without a teacher, Daniel told Mabel that he was going to stop playing the piano
Daniel Self-Study of Art
Daniel learned about youth art classes but said that Mabel told him he’d have to wait until college to study
Daniel invents a persona of his cat for a school assignment
For a school assignment to create commercials, Daniel made a Sassy Fras mask (after his cat), and advertised “Sassy Fras
Daniel’s Brother Dick Leaves for College
Dick moves to Abilene, TX to attend Abilene Christian University, leaving Daniel alone at home with his aging parents.
Daniel and Dick begin making home movies
Daniel began making home movies on an 8mm camera, with his friends and brother Dick. Daniel wrote, directed, and starred
Daniel defends his friend
Daniel had a pizza party at home, and invited all his friends. Randy Yost, Daniel’s best friend at the time,
Daniel hits his head
Daniel slipped and hit his head and had to get x-rays.[1] [1] 5:00, DT005_0 Sept 6 1983 Letter to Dave
Daniel baptized
Daniel was baptized, 4 days after his 12th birthday.[1] [1] 16:43, DT001_1; 16:12. CS0360_0 Apr 8 88 Preaching the gospel
Daniel’s Father, Bill, laid off from Air-Co.
Daniel wrote that Bill had been laid off from Air-Co. He wrote that they thought there wouldn’t be a Christmas
Daniel’s Third Sister, Cindy, Leaves Home for College
Cindy left home to attend Abilene Christian College (ACC), leaving Dick and Daniel as the only siblings still living at
Daniel’s School and Art
In a letter to Margy, Mabel wrote that Daniel had received a perfect report card, along with “all good behavior
Daniel Begins Recording Himself
Daniel began a lifelong habit of recording himself practicing and playing the piano, and then playing the recordings back. In
Daniel’s Second sister, Margy leaves for college
The siblings leaving home every few years become part of Daniel’s depression.
Dead Dog’s Eyeball
When he was 7 years old, Daniel discovered a Doberman Pinscher hanging by its neck from the swing set of
Daniel Shaped by Early Interests
Beginning in childhood and continuing for the rest of his life, Daniel had a great love for each of the
Daniel’s Elementary School years
Elementary school, grades K-6. He was very popular among his peers, a phenomenon he later described as feeling like “the
Daniel Dreams of Fame
From a very early age Daniel began to declare, to anyone that would listen, that he was going to be
Daniel’s Early Childhood
In January of 1966, seven months before he would enter kindergarten, Daniel was enrolled in a preschool program call “Head