Stephen McDaniel grew up in Bridgeport, West Virginia, the son of Paul T. McDaniel, who ran nursing homes in the region. He left West Virginia University at 20 to go into business with his father — and built two companies, ran a state agency, and planted a Christmas tree farm before anyone suggested he slow down.
In 1987 McDaniel and his father launched Ultra Care Inc., a Part B medical supply company serving long term care facilities across West Virginia. He managed around 50 accounts personally, visiting nearly every county in the state on a regular basis. In 1994 they expanded into home infusion and pharmacy services under the name Total Health Services of WV, based in Clarksburg and Fairmont. He and his father sold both companies in 2009.
After a three-year non-compete, McDaniel finished his degree at Fairmont State — business and psychology — and planted what became Mozark Mountain Tree Farm on a mountain in Tucker County. His children join him each November for planting and harvest. The farm opens the Friday after Thanksgiving and runs until the trees are gone.
Director, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
In February 2017, Governor Jim Justice appointed Stephen McDaniel Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, citing his “enthusiasm for outdoor recreation and strong business background.” He held the post until January 2022.
During that tenure the agency directed more than $151 million into state park and forest improvements, added nearly 86,000 acres of public hunting ground, and completed $30 million in hatchery renovations that raised the state’s trout holding capacity by more than 50 percent. State park revenue set a record in 2021, up 22 percent against 2016. License revenue reached its highest point in more than 20 years.
Under his watch the agency launched West Virginia’s elk restoration program, working with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and The Conservation Fund to bring animals from Arizona and Kentucky onto reclaimed mine land in Logan County. The elk viewing tours sold out within days of opening and drew visitors from nine states. He also helped move Sunday hunting through the legislature — first on private land statewide, then on more than 1.5 million acres of public ground — and established the West Virginia State Parks Endowment, funded by oil and gas royalties from state land.
His approach to the role was stated plainly at the outset. “I’m an administrator. I’ve got my doctors here in the agency. They know what to do. I’m going to get out of their way.”
Today
Stephen McDaniel divides his time between St. Augustine, Florida and Tucker County, West Virginia. He co-owns Readybox of WV, a portable storage container company serving most of North Central West Virginia. He is a member of the St. Augustine Rod and Gun Club and Stonewall Sporting Clays in Lewis County.
He holds life memberships in Trout Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Quail Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, the West Virginia Deer Association, and Shriners Children’s Hospital. He has appeared as a guest on Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming, a fishing program that has run more than 20 seasons on ESPN2 and the Pursuit Channel, and has hunted on two continents and in more than a dozen countries. He shares his time between Florida and West Virginia with a black Lab named Seneca.