Don spent one year at Louisiana College where he entered the Naval Reserve, then entered the Academy from Alexandria, LA.  He chose Navy Air upon graduation, and retired as a commander.

He died on 21 April 1981 in Gretna, LA.  His wife, Clay Keene “Winkie” Cook died about 1993, leaving two children, Richard Jr. and Tracy.  As of the date of his death, Don worked as an adjudicator for the VA Medical Center.