Roscoe "Dan" McDaniel Cougill's Obituary
Roscoe McDaniel "Dan" Cougill, retired US Air Force Brigadier General and former Mayor of Charleston, IL, age 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon, IL. Surviving family take great comfort in the knowledge that Dan rests in God's eternal glory, and thank you all for the comfort you have provided.
Dan was born on October 24, 1941, in Charleston, IL, the son of Oral and Emaline (Vaughn) Cougill. On February 15, 1969, he married the love of his life, Sallie A. Carrow, in Robinson, IL.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Sallie A. Cougill of Charleston; two sons, Andrew A. (Elizabeth) Cougill and Christopher M. (Ann) Cougill, both of Charleston; four grandchildren, Hailey, Scout, Audie, and Charles Cougill, all of Charleston; and one sister, Sarah Cougill of Charleston. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Susan Cougill.
Dan was a 1959 graduate of Charleston High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Illinois University in 1963. After teaching math for a year in Byron, IL, he joined the United States Air Force in 1964, and took his first assignment with Strategic Air Command at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. Subsequent duty stations included Vandenberg AFB, CA, Andersen AFB, Guam (from which he frequently visited Vietnam as Officer in Charge of two Communications Operating Locations there), Keesler AFB, MS, Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO, Maxwell AFB, AL, HQ USAF at The Pentagon (Washington, DC), Carlisle Barracks, PA, Patrick AFB, FL, NATO HQ, Brussels, Belgium, HQ USAF (second tour), Scott AFB, IL, HQ USAF (third tour), and MacDill AFB, FL. His career also took him to temporary duty assignments around the globe too numerous to mention. In his final assignment he served as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf's Director of Command Control Communications and Computer Systems at U.S. Central Command. In that position he organized the largest "from-scratch" communications buildup in history, an accomplishment which successfully integrated the communications networks of all the U.S. military branches (and those of the multinational coalition) for the first time, contributing to the overwhelming military success of Operation Desert Storm.
Upon his retirement in 1992, he returned to Charleston, where he was honored to serve the community that raised him by serving three terms as mayor.
Dan was a member of Charleston Baptist Church, VFW Post 1592, and the Charleston Community Band. He had a deep love for music and cherished his time with the band. His free time was spent tending to his wooded property south of town, befriending the many deer, birds, and other "critters" who live there, and he adored visits with his grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor James Summerlin officiating. Military rites will be conducted by members of the US Air Force and VFW Post #1592 following the service at Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL. A brief gathering of fellowship and remembrance will be held immediately following these services at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church's Moriarty Hall, 921 Madison Avenue, Charleston, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Charleston VFW Post 1592, 1821 20th St., Charleston, IL 61920, or the Charleston Community Band, 520 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920.
To view the obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle, or share memories, please visit www.adamsfuneralchapel.com. Adams Funeral Chapel of Charleston, IL, is handling the arrangements.
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