Earl Don Riley

Colonel (retired) Earl Don Riley, USAF, passed away peacefully at the age of 85 at Ridgecrest Retirement and Health Care Center Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

The funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at First Baptist Church, 500 Webster Ave., Waco, Texas. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, 2124 S 5th St, Waco, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas.

Don was born in Amarillo, Texas, September 20, 1939, and attended Amarillo High School before moving to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University in 1958, where he received a BBA in Economics. He continued his education at Troy State University, where he earned an MS in Counseling.

In Amarillo, Texas, August 15, 1969, he married Nancy Ella Lester of Skellytown, Texas. They welcomed their daughter, Michelle, in February 1972. She brought more joy to their lives than they ever imagined.

Don had two careers in his life — in the United States Air Force and at Baylor University. He served 26 years in the Air Force, from 1963 to 1989, and was stationed in various places in the States, including Boston, Alaska, Alabama, and Colorado. He fought in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, where he received the Bronze Star for heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the U.S.

His other foreign tour was at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) from 1983 to 1986, where he was instrumental in developing and publishing the Tri-Major NATO Commander’s Command and Control Plan, which itemized the systems necessary for commanders to accomplish their missions. Other notable decorations he received include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal. His pinnacle assignment was as Commander of AFROTC Detachment 810 and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Baylor University. He retired from the USAF in 1989 at the conclusion of this command.

His second career with Baylor lasted another 24 years. Initially working as an advisor in the Office of Academic Advisement, he was promoted to Director of Student-Athlete Services in 1996. He set the standard for graduation rates for the rest of the schools in the Big XII Conference during his tenure.

While working at Baylor, he was a member of the Baylor Women’s Athletic Council, advisor for both Phi Delta Theta and Alpha Chi Omega fraternities, and received the Norman “Moon” Mullins Bear Foundation Distinguished Honor Roll for Faculty and Staff award.

Don actively volunteered in the Rotary Club of Waco as both a member and chairman of several committees, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and was the founder and charter member of the Central Texas Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars.

Inspired by his daughter’s involvement, he was dedicated to the sport of track and field, both observing and officiating. He was a national member of the U.S. Track and Field Association for Track Officials and, over the years, officiated in both the Southwest and Big XII Conferences, the National Junior Track Championship, and several NCAA Championship meets.

As a long-time member of First Baptist Waco, he taught a 9th-grade boys Sunday School class, was the president of the Judge Abner V. McCall Class, and chaired various committees. Having been baptized at the First Baptist Church of Amarillo as a child, his faith was a prevalent part of his life, as evidenced by the way he treated everyone around him.

Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Riley; his daughter, Michelle Shero, and husband, Eric Shero; his grandsons, Riley Shero and Reagan Shero, and wife, Clare Shero; his brother, Jack Riley; and several nieces and nephews.

The pallbearers will be Tom Harrison, Clyde Hart, Jimmy McCluskey, Eric Shero, Riley Shero, Reagan Shero, and Gary Shores.

Honorary pallbearers will be Maston Courtney, James Jarmon, Scott Jones, Ben March, Jack Riley, and Kip Riley.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Chaplain Major General Gerald E. Marsh AFROTC Alumni Scholarship Fund by scanning the QR code below or going to bbis.baylor.edu and choosing the following information: Academic Unit – College of Arts & Sciences; Area – Aerospace Studies; Fund – Chaplain Major General Gerald E. Marsh AFROTC Scholarship Fund.

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The family invites you to leave a message or memory in Don’s “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com, which may also be used in a tribute wall at the visitation and funeral.