Cheri Herman Daniels

Last updated
Cheri Herman Daniels
Reagan Contact Sheet C39260 (cropped2).jpg
Daniels in 1987
Indiana State Fair Commissioner
In office
May 23, 2022 –September 30, 2025
Children4
Relatives Billy Herman (grandfather)
Education Indiana University Bloomington

Cheri Lynn Herman Daniels (born 1950) is an American civic leader who served as First Lady of Indiana from 2005 to 2013 as the wife of Governor Mitch Daniels. In 2022, she was appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb to serve on the commission for the Indiana State Fair.

Contents

Early life and education

Daniels was born Cheri Lynn Herman in New Albany, Indiana, in 1950. [1] She is a granddaughter of professional baseball player Billy Herman. [2]

She studied journalism at Indiana University Bloomington and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. [3] [4]

Public life

Daniels served as First Lady of Indiana from January 10, 2005, to January 14, 2013, during her husband's term as Governor of Indiana. [1] As first lady, she partnered with the Indiana State Department of Health to raise awareness for heart disease in women. [3] She participated in a program called "Cheri's Chores", where she learned job skills including driving a dump truck and working as a lunch lady. [5] In 2011, she gave the keynote address during Indiana's Republican Party fundraiser, referring to herself as "the pig whisperer" and an "honorary Hooters Girl". [6]

Daniels served as a member of Indiana Heart Hospital's advisory board and as a member of the foundation board for Community Hospitals. [3]

In 2022, she was appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb to serve on the Indiana State Fair Commission. [3] She served on the commission from May 23, 2022, to September 30, 2025. [3] She also served on the Indiana State Fair's board. [3]

Personal life

She married Mitch Daniels in 1978 and had four daughters. [6] They divorced in 1993 and she remarried. [7] She later divorced her second husband and remarried Daniels in 1997. [6]

Daniels won multiple awards at the Indiana State Fair for milking cows and spitting watermelon seeds. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Daniels, Cheri, 1950-,". Purdue University . West Lafayette, Indiana . Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Felsenthal, Carol (May 16, 2011). "Cheri Daniels: First Lady of Indiana, Granddaughter of a Cubs Great… And Future First Lady of the United States?". Chicago Magazine . Chicago, Illinois . Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cheri Daniels appointed to state fair commission". Purdue Exponent . West Lafayette, Indiana. May 9, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ "The heart of a healthy lifestyle". Themis. Winter 2013.
  5. ↑ Horowitz, Jason (May 13, 2011). "Daniels' spouse may determine presidential bid". Seattle Times . Seattle, Washington.
  6. 1 2 3 "Indiana First Lady, 'Honorary Hooters Girl' Cheri Daniels Complicates 2012 Presidential Race". ABC News . May 12, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "SHELLA: Mitch's marriage was no big deal in Indiana". Indiana Business Journal. June 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
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