Don Riley

Don Riley
Born(1923-11-10)November 10, 1923
New Richmond, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedDecember 31, 2015(2015-12-31) (aged 92)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
OccupationSportswriter
Spouse
Dorothy Riley
(died 2012)
Children1

Donald Riley (November 10, 1923 – December 31, 2015) was an American sportswriter at the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper covering Minnesota sports, from 1943 to 1988 through his "Eye Opener" column.[1]

Born in New Richmond, Wisconsin, Riley grew up in Minneapolis and attended Roosevelt High School. He joined the Pioneer Press after high school.[2] During his time there, he gained a reputation of agitating Green Bay Packers fans.[3]

Riley was married to his wife Dorothy until her death in 2012. He died on New Year's Eve 2015 and was survived by his daughter Shannon and two grandchildren.[4] He had trouble with alcohol but was sober from 1979 onwards, writing a book called Gallivan's Gang about his alcohol-fueled nights.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Former Pioneer Press sports columnist Don Riley dies at 92". Minneappolis Tribune. January 2, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Reusse, Patrick (January 3, 2016). "Don Riley and his stories were a joy". Minneappolis Tribune.
  3. ^ Reusse, Patrick (November 22, 1998). "Packers bring out urge to agitate, and Don Riley was the master". Minneappolis Tribune. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  4. ^ DeLage, Jaime (January 1, 2016). "Don Riley, longtime Pioneer Press sports columnist, dies at 92". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  5. ^ "Former Pioneer Press sports columnist Don Riley dies at 92". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. January 1, 2016.