Don, a native of Illinois, received his BS in music education from Indiana State and taught for 7 years in his home town of Marshall, IL, where he started a Jr. High band program and assisted with band and chorus in the high school.  During that time he was also CO and director of the 451st Army Reserve Band.  In 1963 Don accepted the position of music supervisor in the Blue Island District 130 schools and maintained that program until retirement in 1991.  During his tenure in Blue Island, IL, Don earned an MMED degree from Vandercook College of Music, directed a church choir for several years, played in various local ensembles, and managed to earn a private pilot's license.  One of Don's students in Blue Island was his daughter Kathy  (now Kathy Bowers of Crossville), of whom he is very proud.

After retirement Don moved to Niceville, FL, and immediately began teaching in a private studio and playing in the Emerald Coast Community Band (which he later directed for over 7 years).  He met and married Patty in 1992 and moved to Fort Walton Beach.  Don played trumpet with the Okaloosa Symphony, the Northwest Florida Symphony, and the Northwest Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, as well as participating on a regular basis with church choir and free lance church and wedding performances with cellist Patty.  Don also was an adjunct music teacher at Okaloosa-Walton Community College.

In 2005, after Patty retired from 22 years with The University of West Florida, Don retired (again), and they moved to Smithville, TN.  Of course they both immediately became involved with music activities.  Don has been playing with the Cookeville Community Band and they are both active in Cookeville 1st United Methodist Church music.