Man of Honor, The Making of A Legend

Son, brother, father, soon-to-be husband, and community leader, are just some of the substantives that best describe Daniel Wilcox. In a culture that cast our individual worth through the prism of material possessions, Daniel Wilcox chooses not to be a cliché. The uniform he wears may be what defines him as a professional football star, but his status is definitely used to honor those before and after him.

Carol Davis,Daniel’s mother, was the motivating force behind his present success. Davis was highly supportive when at the tender age of eight Daniel expressed his interest in art and sport. Like any loving and caring parent, she believed in his dream to some day play in the NFL. The journey, however, was not easy. As an African -American single mom she knew she would face many challenges raising her son Daniel and daughter Kimberly, by herself. She vowed to provide them with a loving, healthy environment, in a house. At the age of 25 Davis purchased her first home. She invited her sister and her sister’s three boys to move in with them. These women were determined to give their children the opportunity to live the American dream. Daniel knew that higher education was the key to success and he made it his goal to excel in school to earn a scholarship. It was also understood that as long as he performed well academically, his mom would do her best to supply all the things he would need to ensure that his dreams are realized. Only a mother’s love can see possibilities rather than obstacles. And armed with no more than a business school education and working her way up the corporate ladder Davis relentlessly invested in her children’s future.

His friends and family also speak highly of him, of his character as a man. A man of substance is how those who know and love Wilcox describe him. Granted, his wife to be, Shauna Chin, loves him for his obvious good looks, charm, kindness and great sense of humor. But what truly captivates her is his protective, nurturing love of children, and the effort he puts in raising his son Tristan. Make no mistake; although Tristan resides primarily with his mother in Atlanta, Wilcox makes it a point to play an active role in his upbringing. His commitment to family is obvious as we watched his interaction with Tristan, while shooting our spread of World Bride Magazine- HIM Edition. We were convinced more than ever that Wilcox was the right choice to be featured for this story.

Tony Strickland,Daniel’s father proudly acknowledges his son accomplishments, but tactfully refrains from taking any credit for his success. He Calls it a blessing to have three amazing sons that honor him with their friendship, demonstrate sense of self, community pride and good sense. Strickland, a successful appraiser, investor and a new real estate agent in the Atlanta area talks lovingly about Daniel’s drive and passion for life and family.

Kareem Young, one of the best men at Wilcox’s wedding is one of the most committed and loyal friends of this amazing soul. Young intimately describes Daniels outgoing, and giving personality. It is with brotherly love that Young takes charge of the preparations for the upcoming festivities. The friendship that binds these two men is as strong as the bond of blood. In essence, Wilcox’s character attracts leaders: Maurice Cullins, Devon Scott, Irta Edwards, Allen McCoy, Felipe Claybrooks, Corey McCoy, Lynn,McCrary, Marilyn Hatcher, Champagne Domingo, and Sean Black are just some of the “leaders of the pack”; The Firm, The Familia.

If you are so fortunate to be surrounded by greatness, love and success, you must count yourself blessed. Daniel is a blessed man, a privileged man. He has it all: college education, a dream career, love of his family and colleagues, home, cars, and all the trappings of being a celebrity. Yet, with blessing comes responsibility and to paraphrase Luke in the New Testament; to whom much is given, from him much is expected. So instead of using his access to selfishly build his wealth, he chooses to use his personal resources, and time, along with his fiancée, Shauna, to work with inner city children to encourage education, and build mental wealth. He creating his own organization, Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. (Motivating and Inspiring Neighborhoods Determined to Succeed), whose mission is to open up the horizon of possibilities for disadvantaged youth in the inner city. Daniel Wilcox founded Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. because he is passionate about providing young people with growth and learning opportunities that inspire them to set higher goals and expectations for themselves. The Foundation partners with schools and community based organizations to set up programs to increase youth access to reading materials, technology, and cultural opportunities. The Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. Foundation is also the co-sponsor of the Baltimore Bee http://www.baltimorebee.com, an annual citywide spelling bee for middle school students in Baltimore City.

Daniel Wilcox, the big man with a big heart is giving back. So we at World Bride Magazine salute our first “Man of Honor- Daniel Wilcox” to be featured in our Spring/Summer 2008 Issue. On Father’s Day Weekend, June 13-June 15, 2008, we celebrated this monumental event at the Glenn Hotel in Atlanta with a weekend of fun family, community talk, and other activities.

See More Pictures from The World Bride Magazine salute to Daniel Cox.