Trivia Countdown

Until Trivia 2011

This past weekend marked the 39th successful Trivia anniversary held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. However, the weekend ended on a tragic note after Thomas Daniels was found dead Sunday morning. He was 57.

Daniels, known to most people as the “Voice of Trivia,” had been working with the annual trivia contest since 1974, lending his voice for promotional advertisements and the famous contest introduction.

Tom Daniels. Photo from the Pointer

“He did the first intro to trivia, and he has been doing them ever since,” said Jim "OZ" Oliva, Trivia’s coordinator and question creator.

Daniels was a Stevens Point resident since childhood. Not long after graduation from P.J. Jacobs High School, Daniels entered the United States Army in 1971, serving until his honorable discharge in 1973, when he then returned to Stevens Point to pursue higher education.

He earned a degree in communication from UW-SP, and never really left. While pursuing a career outside the university, Daniels lent his voice to 90FM every year for the Trivia contest.

His participation exemplified what 90FM is all about, said Production Director Shawn Connelly.

“He grew up with 90FM,” said Connelly. “People can move on, but people love coming back to that place. He’s always [here], every year, willing to lend his talents. He really embodied what 90FM is all about.”

His participation in Trivia for so many years has included many conversations with students.

“He really would talk to different students and they would really communicate with him,” said Oliva. “It was great. They would take guidance out of him.”

Everyone at the station agreed Daniels’ shoes will be hard to fill. For Oliva, this really means filling a voice.

Though plans are uncertain for next year’s Trivia weekend, Oliva is certain there will be a special trophy presented in honor of Daniels.

“There will be a trophy dedicated to Tom. There will be something done in his honor from now on,” said Oliva.

For those who knew him, suffering the loss of such a genuine person will not be easy, but they may find comfort in knowing how Daniels spent his last day.

“His last show was really good. He had so much fun on that,” said Oliva. “I guess that in a lot of ways he was luckier than most people because his last day he did exactly what he loves to do. Not many people can say that.”

On Friday, April 18, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. a celebration of life service will be held at the Shuda Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Steve Olson will officiate. Friends and family will gather to share memories from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home and again from 9:00 a.m. until time of service Friday at the funeral chapel. The American Legion Post No. 6 will have a ritual at 6:30 p.m. and the Elks Lodge No. 641 will hold their ritual at 7:00 p.m., both at the funeral chapel Thursday. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in his name.