Memorials › Don Wallace “D. A.” Alexander
Don Wallace “D. A.” Alexander
3 Sep 1935 – 1 Mar 2003
| Birth | 3 Sep 1935 |
| Death | 1 Mar 2003 |
| Cemetery | Llano Cemetery Amarillo , Randall County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | Walter Dunn on 02 Nov 2007 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22214542 |
Bio
Married May 21, 1993 AUSTIN - Don "D.A." Wallace Alexander, 67, died Saturday, March 1, 2003. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. today in Bethany United Methodist Church. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Cook-Walden/Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home. Mr. Alexander was born in Graham on Sept. 3, 1935, to Wallace and Lillian Alexander. Don grew up in several locations, including Los Angeles and Hood River, Ore., until eventually settling back in Graham, where he played quarterback for the Graham High School football team and attained his diploma. After graduating, D.A. attended North Texas State University, where he expanded his musical talents while playing in a band with rock legend Roy Orbison. In 1964, his own band, Alexander & the Greats, recorded his first of many hits, "Hot Dang Mustang," which quickly rose to No. 6 on the charts, above such notables as Elvis Presley, The Kinks, Frank Sinatra, and The Rolling Stones. D.A. continued his successful career as a songwriter, having his work performed by notables such as Frank Starr, Andy Starr, Brenda Pepper, Buddy Latham, Jimmy Harris, and Neil Diamond. He continued to write and perform songs throughout his lifetime. Following his musical talent, D.A. began a long-standing career in the communications industry as a disc jockey for a radio station in his hometown of Graham, and eventually moved on to other stations in Fort Worth, Eureka, Ark., Rocky Ford, Colo., and Wichita Falls. He then made the move into television broadcasting in 1964, starring in the children's television program, "Stage Coach Three," in which he played Pinto Bean, the old marshal alongside his trusty horse, Swayback. It was shortly thereafter that D.A. made his break into prime-time news. While traveling to Los Angeles to visit his mother, Don stepped off the bus and into the beginning of the Watts Riots in August 1965. He quickly made a phone call to KFDX Channel 3 in Wichita Falls to request a live feed, and the rest, as they say, was history. Upon his return to Wichita Falls, Don quickly ascended the ranks in television broadcasting, eventually becoming a household name as anchor and news director of KFDX News in Wichita Falls. After serving the Wichita Falls public for 19 years, Don then went on to serve as news director in Corpus Christi, as well as Meridian, Miss., eventually settling in Amarillo as a meteorologist, where he delivered the weather for about three years. During the course of his career, D.A. was recognized for his steadfast dedication as the colorful host of numerous charity events, including the Easter Seals and Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons. After a 20 year multiple-award winning television/radio career, Don then switched gears, as he so often did, trying his talents in managed care and health plan development. He spent a brief period as marketing director with Panhandle Provider Organization. Don then became the risk manager for Affiliated Foods in Amarillo. Finalizing this sector of his career, Don developed his own managed care consulting firm called Alexander Benefit Concepts, and eventually settled in with friends and family as Don Alexander, director of wisecracks and practical jokes, mischievously referring people to his listing in the phonebook under "Star." He spent the remainder of his life as an inspiration and general pain in the neck to his family and friends. Finally, in 1993, D.A. met Beverly Sheppard, who he commonly referred to as his "best friend and life's companion," on the golf course. The two were married on May 21, 1993. D.A., as he was known to his closest friends, led a truly remarkable life, inspiring all of whom he touched along the way. Happy trails, Hoss...we'll miss ya. Don was preceded in death by his mother, Lillian Darden, and his daughter, Dedra. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; two daughters, Jenifer Eden Henthorn and husband, Dave, of Red Oak and Dede Alderman and husband, Skip, of Wichita Falls; a son, Tony M. Alexander and wife, Del, of Eastland; his father, Wallace Alexander and wife, Lemy, of Little Rock, Ark.; a sister, Gail Bryant of Craig, Colo.; two uncles, Edis Sluder and wife, Esther, of Joshua and Leonard Sluder and wife, Monna, of Graham; his grandchildren, Meagan Nicole, Daylon Chez Taylor, Amber, Shawna and Cody; his great-grandchildren, Alex Wayne, Lee Ann, Steven Wayne and Andrew Christopher; two stepsons, Jim LaCoume and wife, Lee, of Plano and Rick LaCoume and wife, Lee, of Flower Mound; and his step-grandchildren, Ricky, Christopher, Katie, Haley, Bradley, Riley and Gracie. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in Austin. Sign our online guest book at www.cookwalden.com. Amarillo Globe-News, March 4, 2003
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