About Don Riley
Lived 1923 – 2015 (aged 91–92). Don Riley was a writer.
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.
Born in New Richmond, Wisconsin, Riley grew up in Minneapolis and attended Roosevelt High School. He joined the Pioneer Press after high school. During his time there, he gained a reputation of agitating Green Bay Packers fans.
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. He had trouble with alcohol but was sober from 1979 onwards, writing a book called Gallivan's Gang about his alcohol-fueled nights.
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Important facts
People in Don Riley's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Don Riley's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Don Riley?
American sportswriter
When was Don Riley born?
Don Riley was born in 1923.
When did Don Riley die?
Don Riley died in 2015.
What was Don Riley's occupation?
Don Riley was a writer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Don Riley. https://biography.guide/don-riley-writer/
MLA: "Don Riley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/don-riley-writer/.
Chicago: "Don Riley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/don-riley-writer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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