We Are Proud To Announce A New Major Sponsor: Hilldrup

Charles McDaniel probably didn’t realize it at the time, but when he was part of George Welsh’s miraculous turnaround of Virginia football in the early 1980s, he was also learning how to become a leader.

The intangibles McDaniel picked up under Welsh’s wing helped him become a successful businessman later in life, and is now CEO and president of Hilldrup, one of the top moving companies in the nation.

Today, JerryRatcliffe.com is proud to announce that Hilldrup has come aboard as a major sponsor of our website. It is our philosophy to create strong bonds with long-established companies with a recognizable and trusted brand to Wahoo fans everywhere.

That’s why we have linked with companies such as Hilldrup (created in 1903), Roy Wheeler Realty (1927), Mincer’s (1948), and Great Harvest Bread Company (1976, the new kid on the block).

McDaniel, an All-ACC linebacker under Welsh, and still the third-leading tackler in Virginia history, said he has more than 950 employees and one of the largest fleets of equipment on the East Coast. Hilldrup, recognized as an industry leader, is renowned by United Van Lines as the top producer in residential, national account, government and international sales. Hilldrup is the only United Van Lines agent to be honored with the Customer Choice Award 23 times.

“I give credit to George (Welsh) and a lot of the Virginia coaches for helping me develop leadership qualities, in addition to the University of Virginia for helping me prepare for life after football,” McDaniel said. “I think football over all other spots – and I’m certainly biased about this – but it teaches the importance of team and the importance of understanding how to win, how to lose, how to prepare, and embracing ‘earned not given,’ and understanding that there will be difficult times in life, in practice, and there will different outcomes.

“But if you work hard and stay focused, I think you can develop better leadership skills,” the former Cavalier said. “I think some people are natural leaders and maybe are a little easier and more comfortable in that role. Some are more reserved but are equally as effective as a leader because their performance certainly excites people to follow them. You don’t have to be a loudmouth – I probably would have fallen into that category – but there are a number of people that I played with and that continue to play today, that lead by example.”

McDaniel pointed to present UVa receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who just broke the program’s all-time, single-game receiving record with 247 yards against Ohio last weekend in Nashville, as that example.

“I don’t see Olamide being front and center, or someone that calls people out,” McDaniel said. “He’s just head down, hard worker and understands the importance of hard work and how to be a leader. He’s a leader on that team. Sports is a wonderful teaching tool for success in life.”

McDaniel also learned from another good leader, his father, C.G. McDaniel, who has passed down those skills to Charles and his son, Charlie, who leads Hilldrup’s sales operation, and who is also the fourth generation of Charles McDaniel’s in the company.

R.G. Hilldrup founded the business, which originally was a horse and carriage transportation company that assisted Fredericksburg college students with moving their belongings from local trains and steamships. In 1940, Charles’ grandfather, C.B. McDaniel, who had worked in the company for eight years, bought the business from Hilldrup, and later partnered with United Van Lines, the largest van line in the world. That led to a major expansion of services, and in 1976, C.B. turned over control of the business to Charles’ dad, C.G., who now serves as the company’s chairman.

Charles is only the fourth CEO and president of the business. His daughter, Jordan, and son, Charlie, joined the company, marking the first time in Hilldrup history that three generations of McDaniels are working for the company at the same time, something both C.G., and Charles are incredibly proud.

Virginia fans no doubt have seen the moving vans that haul the Cavaliers’ football equipment all around the country, and the company’s “Moving On Up,” promotion where fans who normally sit in the upper deck at Scott Stadium and John Paul Jones Arena, can win the Hilldrup lottery and win great seats closer to the action.

Charles has served on the Virginia Athletic Foundation’s executive committee and the VAF board the last four years. He is also one of the board managers of the school’s alumni association and has served in other capacities to help his alma mater.

“The school has always given me more than I can give back,” McDaniel said. “I have a great affinity for what UVa did for me and for others. It’s a very special place that I feel an obligation to give back and to support.”

Running a company with so many family ties has been an enriching experience for Charles, who is still known to a lot of UVa folks, including old teammates and sportswriters, as Charlie, which can cause confusion because his son goes by Charlie.

Still, it has been a great family atmosphere.

“My father grew the business and I’ve taken it over and done some different things,” Charles said. “There are no guarantees. The only guarantee in family business is do not allow family to screw up your business. I learned that from my father and grandfather. I’d like to think that over the years I’ve earned the right to now lead it. I’ve been doing that for the last 12 years, and my children will have that same opportunity if they earn it. They’re doing a nice job right now.”

Earned not given, a phrase that present UVa football coach Bronco Mendenhall uses to inspire his players, is something McDaniel is familiar with. His coach, Welsh, was the same way. It wasn’t really spoken like it is present day, but was understood just the same.

While talking about business and sponsorship, it was only natural that the sportswriter who covered Virginia in McDaniel’s playing days, reminisced about putting Wahoo football on the map and how McDaniel and others are helping new athletic director Carla Williams’ plans to make Virginia football relevant again.

That portion of our chat will appear on our site in the coming days, and believe me, if you’re a Wahoo, you don’t want to miss it.

For now, we’re beaming over our sponsorship with Hilldrup, along with all our other sponsors. Our goal is to have our brand to become just as recognizable in Wahoo Nation as theirs.

If you’re planning a move, call Hilldrup, with offices in Stafford, Sterling, and Richmond, Va.; Forestville, Md.; Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Orlando, Fla.