Donald Leroy Lougheed

Don Lougheed, age 90, passed away on July 8. Born in Oneonta, NY, Don is survived by his wife Kathy, his two children Scott Lougheed and Alison Rinner, his grandchildren, Courtney Lougheed, Carson Lougheed, and Kristen Rinner; and his sisters Mary Lee Hibbard and Sally Lindstruth. Don and Kathy were high school sweethearts in Milford NY, and were married for 68 years. Don attended Columbia University in New York and joined the Air Force in 1953. After their wedding in 1955 they moved to Bryan/College Station, Texas, where Don served as a flight instructor for the US Air Force. In 1958 Don and Kathy returned to NY so he could work with his father in Norwich NY. By 1963 Don opened his first dealership, Ballantyne Rambler, followed by Ballantyne Trailer City in Rochester NY. Don and Kathy retired in 1977 and moved to Austin, TX where he helped his son Scott start Crestview RV. Don and Kathy’s favorite memories are of Northville, NY, where they spent summers on the Great Sacandaga Lake and where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July 2005 with 60 friends and family. In 2010 Scott arranged for Don to be honored by the RVDA Hall of Fame, as past President (1975). Don is remembered by his family as loving his antique cars and motorcycles, rides with his son, and giving his grandkids rides on the back of his Harley.

A trailblazer in business, Don, along with Kathy, chose to leave their legacy at Kathy’s Alma Mater, SUNY Potsdam. Together they established the annual LoKo Arts Festival in 2012. In 2013, Don was named an honorary member of Kathy’s graduation Class of 1954. Inspired by the impact of their gifts to the arts had on students and faculty, they decided to ensure students and faculty would have the opportunity to dream, explore and create and invested further in Potsdam’s future with historic gifts. In recognition of their vision and generosity, Don and Kathy received the Distinguished Service Award from the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association in 2016. In 2018, the Lougheed Learning Commons, which houses the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning as well as the College’s library was named for Don and Kathy. As commencement speaker in 2019, Don shared “My entire life I have invested in people. Throughout my life I have run many successful businesses and derived much joy from their success and from the hard work that went into each. However, nothing compares to the pure joy and delight I receive from our investment in Potsdam and in all of you.” Don’s passion and belief in others is his lasting legacy that will live on forever with Kathy’s at SUNY Potsdam.

The memorial service will be held on July 29 in Austin. Please contact 512-867-6346 for funeral details or to express wishes and condolences. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78759, or online at www.hospiceaustin.org.