Don Knight Risher

Don Knight Risher passed on Dec. 28, 2015 in Aurora Colo. He was born in Washington, D.C. on March 6, 1946 to Horace Risher and Maude Knight Risher. He was pre-deceased by his brother David H. Risher, USAF Academy Class of 1964, and his sister Ann Risher Yarborough. His sister Ann was married to Ralph H. Yarborough, Sr. of Richmond, Va. Their children are Donna Yarborough Stevens of Wacissa, Fla., who is married to Jackson C. Stevens II and they have a daughter Keren D. Stevens, and nephews Ralph H. Yarborough, Jr. and Glenn D. Yarborough of Richmond, Va., and niece Lynn A. Yarborough of Wacissa, Fla.

Don had fond memories of his high school summers spent working on his Aunt May's Mississippi Tung farm, Tung Shan. His last summer there was in 1964, just before the particularly difficult 1965 hurricane season decimated the entire Tung industry. After high school, he followed in the footsteps of his brother David and entered the USAF Academy. There is a rumor that a photo exists of Don high-tailing it down the terrazzo during the noon meal formation with the Navy's goat in tow.

Don graduated from the USAF Academy in 1968 and became an Intelligence officer. He served his first tour at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand supporting the forward air controllers. He was then assigned to RAF Alconbury, England supporting the reconnaissance wing in various deployments especially liking those to Greece. He then had a second tour in Thailand as an Indications and Warning officer. After a tour at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, he then served as an Instructor at the Intelligence School at Lowry AFB, Colo. until medically separated from the Air Force.

Don remained in Denver and became a realtor and then an international shipping manager for Flying Tigers which was later acquired by Federal Express. He retired from FEDEX in 2009.

Don enjoyed hiking in the area and playing golf. He enjoyed Dinosaur digging in Thermopolis, Wyo. and learning about prehistoric life. Don looked forward to annual trips visiting the national parks and monuments and using his senior pass. He was also interested in his family genealogy, and had traced both the Risher and Knight sides of his family back to the beginning of the 1800s.

Burial was at the USAF Academy Cemetery at on Jan. 11, 2016.

(Matt Szczepanek, former roommate and friend, and Donna Stevens, Don's niece)