Hart County Chamber of Commerce dedicates plaque to late Kerry McDaniel
MUNFORDVILLE, Ky. – A major hole was left in the Hart County community when Kerry McDaniel died due to COVID-19 in February of 2021.
Five years later on May 26, 2026, Hart County would come together to dedicate a plaque to one of their own.
Friends, former coworkers, family and public officials came to Hart County Solid Waste to celebrate the life of Kerry McDaniel, a beloved member of the community.
Many memories and stories about Kerry McDaniel were shared and emphasized just how much he touched the people in Hart County. But when asked how to describe the kind of man he was, the one thing that came to mind for his son, Curtis, was that he was like “a big teddy bear.”
“You know, he was the same way all the time. Every time you saw him even if you were upset, he managed to get things done by being that way,” Curtis McDaniel added.
During his life, Kerry McDaniel wore many hats. After his retirement from the Kentucky Division of Environmental Protection, he came back to Hart County to serve as the emergency management director and solid waste coordinator.
Along with this, though, Kerry McDaniel also served as the county’s 911 director and fire department council.
He was someone that was always working and ready to lend a helping hand. He was someone you could count on and never had to worry about him saying no or that he was too busy.
“He was always working and always called and let me know what was going on in the county while I was County Judge,” said Terry Martin, former Judge Executive of Hart County.
With all of these titles, constantly finding ways to make his community better, and a willingness to e there at a moments notice, you wonder, “Who was Kerry doing this for?”
The answer to that is easy – the people of Hart County.
“And he would’ve worked for free almost it seemed. He could never do enough for the county, and he could never do enough for people. He loved people, he was a people person,” Curtis McDaniel said.
Even five years after his passing, Kerry McDaniel’s loss is still felt in Hart County. One word people in attendance kept using to describe him was “legend.” But, according to Martin, his life and accomplishments embodied what a public servant should be.
“He is the public servant that is ready 24/7, seven days a week to do his job and help out in any other peoples jobs,” Martin said.
Though Kerry McDaniel is no longer with us, the legacy and impact he left behind is still felt today. Not just in Hart County but throughout the state as well.
