Sheila Caguiat
MSW-ACP, Executive Director Since 2011
Welcome! I’m Sheila, the Executive Director of the Smalley Foundation. I have worked for many years on various initiatives, ranging from baseline compliance to data-driven supplemental.
I have engaged in-person with school officials in over 1,000 schools nationwide, have been on the front lines with emergency official liaison efforts of many kinds, have formed collaborations and resources that are industry ground-breaking, and have been instrumental in identifying gaps, pain-points and opportunities, developing solutions that are highly effective, increasing reach, depth of quality, and engagement.
Our unique organization has grown to be a wealth of skills and knowledge. Our strategies streamline complex issues to create clear paths forward, making the perceived impossible- possible. And the level of wrap around support we provide to stakeholders and operators is second to none, resulting in high success rates.
Reflecting on our journey reminds us of the significance of our mission, and as we look ahead, there’s so much more to do and to be excited about! Our work relies on partnerships within the industry. Regardless of where you are in your public awareness program, the Smalley Foundation offers inspiration and value to renew your passion and boost your outcomes. Let’s seize every chance to enhance pipeline safety and awareness and not let any slip away. Reach out today, and together, let’s do something fantastic!
Dwight Haddock
President Since Opening in 2002
Thank you for visiting! As a longtime friend of Danny Smalley, I witnessed the aftermath of the incident and was instrumental in the establishment of the Foundation in Danielle’s honor.
I’ve been involved from the early grassroots efforts to our current status as a vital voice and resource within the industry. Over the past few decades, I’ve observed the growth of public awareness in our field, and I’m proud that we decided to contribute to the solution, inspire action, and energize progress.
In 1996, we had to consider the consequences of what could happen if public awareness didn’t improve – and we made a decision that this urgent problem was worth solving. Our work is very important, and we have a clear line of sight. Our goal is to prevent any other lives from being lost. We put all of our focus, resources and energy into this defined problem and goal. It is our challenge. It is the industry’s challenge. Together, we are striving to help public awareness reach its full potential, and helping every stakeholder get the most out of it.
Today, much progress has been made in public awareness and pipelines and communities are safer than before. It is important that we continue to think beyond the box as technology and lifestyles change and challenge traditional outreach models. Maintaining relevant message visibility and fostering a positive experience in a changing environment is a continuous effort, essential for sustaining growth and preventing reach decline.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our industry sponsors and partners who have joined us on this journey – some from the very start and others along the way. Your support has been instrumental in our achievements, and it is thanks to you that our programs and services receive such high acclaim from stakeholders, operators, and regulators alike.
Danny Smalley
Smalley Foundation Founder
In Memory, Oct. 26, 1955 — Oct. 24, 2024
Danny Smalley single-handedly raised his daughter, Danielle. To provide for their family, he took on various jobs, including landscaper, mechanic, roofer, and glazier.
He felt immense pride knowing that Danielle would be the first in their family to go to college. Danny honored the commitment he made in court to the jury, vowing to use funds from the judgment to enhance pipeline safety. He not only fulfilled this promise but did so on a grand scale by founding the Danielle Dawn Smalley Foundation.
Danny always said that he felt responsible for his own daughter’s death because he wasn’t aware there was a pipeline nearby and didn’t know the dangers. A 1999 newspaper article titled Father of Teen Killed in Explosion Opens Foundation quotes Danny as saying in court, “I failed my daughter in life, but I won’t fail her in death.”
A Mourning Father’s Gift
A newspaper article titled “A Mourning Father’s Gift,” regarding the foundation’s grand opening in 2002 stated, “Smalley did not wait on government. Unable to spend his love on his daughter, he decided to spend it instead on his community, to spare other families the pain of bearing the unbearable. What a good man, and how lucky we are to have him among us.”
Danny Smalley, at age 46 when the foundation opened, stated, “I am just a father who loves his children. If we can save one life, then we’ve accomplished a great feat.”
“I want the Foundation to grow, I want the Foundation to be all over the United States.”
– Danny Smalley, Smalley Foundation Founder
A spokesperson for the at-fault pipeline company said that company officials “commend Mr. Smalley for initiating this important foundation and welcome and support additional efforts to promote pipeline safety and training.”
A Powerful Presentation
Earl Jones, who served as the Anderson County Emergency Management Coordinator during the foundation’s grand opening in 2002, was quoted in a newspaper article reflecting on the significance of the grassroots training at that time, stating, “It is a very powerful presentation because it puts it in personal terms. This situation affected real people.”
Danny Duane Smalley, who entered the world on October 26, 1955, in Athens, Alabama, was a remarkable individual known for his extraordinary kindness and charming personality. He left this life peacefully on October 24, 2024, in Tyler, Texas, enveloped by the love of his family and friends.
A Strong Sense of Morality
Danny’s life was characterized by a strong sense of morality, an immense love for his family, friends, and pets, and a deep well of compassion, strength, and generosity. As a dedicated family man, he took great pride in nurturing, protecting, and raising his children with love. His charismatic nature and remarkable ability to forge connections went beyond mere friendship, making him a reliable source of support for many throughout his life. A proud U.S. Army Veteran, Danny felt honored to have served his country.
Those who have been part of the foundation he established or have benefited from its services have all been touched by his lasting impact and inspiration.
Dannys efforts have truly made a difference in saving lives, and the foundation has made its mark across the entire United States. So much has been accomplished! There’s still more work ahead; the mission continues, and we are confident that Danny and Danielle will be by our side every step of the way!