Col. Donald David Durr Sr.

Col. Donald D. Durr, Sr., age 80, of Mandeville, La. and Williamsburg, Va. passed away on February 15, 2022. He was born on October 21, 1941 in New Orleans, La. to the late Louis E. Durr and Claire Ulmer Durr.

He is survived by his beautiful partner Patricia Lacoste, children Wendy Durr Wall and Sidney A. Wall and Donald David Durr, Jr. and Jane-Lauren Brittingham Durr; and four grandchildren Sidney “Davis” Wall, Claire, Anna Kate and Natalie Durr. He also is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53 years, Brenda Smith Durr, and his sister, Joye Durr Bode (Pete).

Don was a proud alumnus of Sam Barthe School for Boys, Georgia Military Academy, Warren Easton High School and Southeastern Louisiana University.

Don served in the U.S. Army for 33 years, achieving the rank of Colonel. While stationed at the U.S. Pentagon, he served on the staff of the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Defense. He also worked on President Ronald Reagan’s Inauguration Committee. He earned the Legion of Merit for Distinguished Service for his dedication to the military during both wartime and peacetime activities. He also served as the Commandant of the Army Transportation School and enjoyed working on the board of directors for the Army Transportation Museum, in Newport News, Va.

While the military was his career, sports were his passion. In high school, he played football, basketball and even hit a home run in Ebbets Field, which was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Always the pioneer, Don led the nation as a professional referee with the American Basketball Association and chosen as the first NBA referee from the South. He always believed in sharing and teaching the next generation of referees, so he created clinics for players and rising referees. He refereed and worked with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Gulf States Athletic Conference, Sunbelt Conference, and the Women’s Pro Basketball Association.

He loved horse racing and owned Tri-D Stables in Louisiana where he raised and raced thoroughbred horses. He also served on the New Orleans Sugar Bowl Committee and was a proud booster of the SLU golf team.

In Louisiana, he maintained both his real estate and home inspection licenses, and his family founded the Louisiana Real Estate Commission. He also was a member of Beau Chene Country Club, the Crewe of Pegasus, and a deputy Sherriff of Washington Parish. He served on the board of directors and loan committee for American Bank and Trust.

He resided in Virginia for more than 30 years. In Williamsburg, he served as the Commodore of the Kingsmill Yacht Club, enjoyed membership at Kingsmill Golf Club, and was an active member of the Williamsburg Kiwanis and Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout his life Don was always planning his next adventure traveling with the Holiday Weekenders in New Orleans. He journeyed to all corners of the earth from Germany to Russia to Iceland; he was always arranging his next trip. He loved Mardi Gras and was a member of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianans in Washington, D.C. As an avid numismatist, he collected both rare coins and Mardi Gras doubloons.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, LA 70433 on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM with visitation on Monday day beginning at 5:00 PM. Interment will follow at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery, with him receiving full military honors.

Don loved children, so in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital. Donations may be made at https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=7372005&pg=personal&fr_id=39300.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gracenorthshore.com for the Durr family.