Donald Francis Riley

Donald “Race” Riley November 10th 1923 – December 31st, 2015 Prolific writer, raconteur and popular figure in Twin Cities sports circles, Don “Race” Riley traded Golden Glove matches for the Golden Gates on New Year’s Eve. He was celebrated and loved well in life by family and friends and he will be toasted on this holiday in perpetuity. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dottie Williams Riley. He is survived by daughters, Sheila Riley Becker (John), Shannon Riley Genereux (Joe) and five grandkids, Riley and Ian Becker, and Madeleine, Mia and Olivia Genereux. Quoted coast to coast, Riley was widely considered one of the most read and controversial sports columnists the Twin Cities has known. He churned out six columns a week for almost thirty years and won fourteen awards from the Associated Press and Newspaper Guild of Minnesota. His career in sports writing spanned 54 years. He retired from the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1987, but continued to write guest columns and articles for national travel and sports magazines. His candid and often outrageous opinions were also shared with radio and television audiences on his sports talk shows for WMIN, WTCN, WCCO AND WLOL. Don was born in Erin Prairie, Wisconsin in 1923 to the late Dorothy and George Riley. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and became a copy boy for the Minneapolis Times newspaper. He attended St. Thomas College where he wrote jazz and sports stories for the school newspaper. After a short stint in the Army, he was picked up as a cub reporter for the St. Paul papers and enrolled in the University of Minnesota. His writing assignments included dozens of championship fights and Indianapolis 500 races, multiple Kentucky Derbies, and more than 1800 high school, college and professional games. He is credited with irrevocably stirring the feud between Vikings fans and “Green Bushers”. He never tired of fans reliving events with him by noting his coverage of student athletes and coaches in the Twin Cities. He maintained rapid recall, weaving slightly exaggerated fancy with the facts in recounting the memories of his fans. He was a brilliant wordsmith and storyteller and his fans are legion. Don penned five books including How to Earn Big Money in Sales by the Age of 25, The Gonif about the infamous safe cracker “Red” Rudensky, John Gagliardi of St. Johns, and Gallivans Gang, published in 2001, about the improbable exploits of notable St. Paul entrepreneurs and sports figures. High and Dry was a study on alcoholism inspired by his own personal battle. Don was proud to be dry for over 40 years. Riley and his wife, Dottie, were also music, theater and travel enthusiasts who took dozens of excursions across Europe and South America and were regular patrons of arts and music organizations here in the Twin Cities. His interests and writings examined politics in Argentina, bronc riders and dog racing, hockey villains and hidden mountain ranges, Irish Wolfhounds and Italian opera. A natural promoter, Don was proud to be one of the original founders of St. Paul’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and endlessly entertaining events for charity, including boxing matches, motorcycle hill climbs, indoor demolition derbies, Lassie’s public appearance at Met Stadium, professional bike races, and the Minnesota Invader‐‐ an Indy 500 racecar. He was a tireless St. Paul booster. His concessions at the Minnesota State Fair ‐‐ including “Chow Cones”, “Moonburgers” (with crater holes for condiments), the world’s fastest car, and a golf putting contest (that closed after rewarding all of its 1600 giant teddy bears in the first four days)‐‐ are legendary. Don loved a dusty hotdog at a dirt track, the blood tinged sweat of a ringside seat, the heart pounding grit of a charging racehorse, the musky stench of a gym, the tradition and history of college and high school rivalries, and even the standing “boo” he would receive at sports dinners in Wisconsin. Riley celebrated the determination of athletes on the mat, the field, the rink, the oval, the track and in the lanes and he cheered underdogs everywhere. He brought readers glimpses of glory and heartbreak through his reflections on legends, dreamers and sideline die‐hards. He loved big dogs and all children but he enjoyed nothing more that providing color commentary on his cherished grandkids’ accomplishments and personalities. And, they adored him. Just last week Don said that he’d “like a few more innings, another turn on the oval”, but that he was also “ready to take a turn on the dancefloor in heaven” with his departed love. He has left us with 1000’s of artfully crafted words and memories and loads of pride. His family and friends will call each other ‘Ace’ and ‘Tiger’ in memory of “Race” Riley and his boundless capacity for enthusiasm, hope, humor and a just little exaggeration. A mass and celebration of Don’s life is planned for Friday, January 15th at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in White Bear Lake at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation starting at 9:30 am. A luncheon and time to share memories will follow. Heartfelt thanks to the friends and staff at The Seasons at Ecumen and Jen, Calvin, Caroline, Hannah, Sarah, and Andrea of Bright On Hospice who helped us celebrate and cherish Don here on earth. Memorials preferred to: Catholic Charities or Can Do Canines (assistance dogs for the disabled).