Don King was born on June 14, 1926 in Worcester, MA.<\/p>\n
Throughout his life, Don was always a sports enthusiast and a fan of all sports.\u00a0 He played basketball at Hillhouse.\u00a0 When his family moved to New Jersey, Don excelled at football for Trenton High School and later at Pennington Preparatory School.\u00a0 Don was accepted to the New York Military Academy and was soon recognized as an outstanding athlete at the school, excelling in football, baseball, basketball and boxing.\u00a0 His favorite sport was football and on campus he was widely recognized for his outstanding play.\u00a0 Don earned the nickname \u201cEel Hips\u201d for his ability to snake his way to the goal line.\u00a0 His classroom work was just as impressive and he graduated with honors.<\/p>\n
Don enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in 1945 and saw action as a gunner on a B-29.\u00a0 On a mission, his plane took heavy fire but managed to land safely in Allied territory.\u00a0 There the plane\u2019s crew was assigned to deliver goods in a military truck to various outposts.\u00a0 They had an accident during a turbulent storm and Don suffered a severe back injury.\u00a0 He returned to the States in a full body cast.\u00a0 True to his love of sports, even when he was being cared for at Walter Reed Hospital, Don maintained his active, athletic nature by throwing a baseball.<\/p>\n
After recovering from his injuries in the war, Don, his wife Peggy and friends built a miniature golf course in Branford.\u00a0 It was a success but they thought a hot dog stand would be more profitable.\u00a0 Many will remember \u201cKings Famous Hot Dogs\u201d on Route 1<\/p>\n
In 1964, Don went on to build the D.J. King Trucking Company and developed a financially stable business.\u00a0 He drove his own truck \u201cThe Black Mariah\u201d.\u00a0 The King Family spent many hours on the road trucking<\/p>\n
Don played Semi-Pro football for the Annex Young Men\u2019s Association and received the New Haven East Shore Golden Football Award in 1984 in recognition for his high ideas and contributions to the game of football.<\/p>\n
He was a member of the New Haven Country Club for many years and was an outstanding golfer.\u00a0 He had three holes in one there and another at River Ranch, Florida.<\/p>\n
Don organized the Branford Bluefish Club, a scuba diving group involved in search and rescue operations in Long Island Sound.<\/p>\n
Don was a member of the Branford Lions Club.\u00a0 He was an avid fan of many teams and attended the games of his sons, daughters, and grandchildren wherever they competed in sports.<\/p>\n
The Kings raised four children: Patty King Fairty, Dr. Valerie A King, D.J. King and Kyle J. King and had great joy with their ten granddaughters and three grandsons.<\/p>\n
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