Background
O'Reilly, Don was born on May 1, 1913 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Dennis Charles and Helen Louise (Barden) O'R.
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Don O'Reilly
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Don O'Reilly, American Reporter, writer, photographer. Elected to National Auto Racing Hall of Fame by National Old Timers Auto Racing Club, Flemington, New Jersey, 1988; named Living Legend of Auto Racing by Living Legends, Port Orange, Florida, 1993, Honorary Order of Kentucky Colonels, Louisville, 1990.
Career
Owner, operator, Eagle Press, 1930-1937;
reporter, photographer, Attleboro (Massachusetts) Sun, 1937-1939;
reporter, photographer, N. Attleboro Chronicle, 1939-1940;
reporter, photographer, New London (Connecticut) Day, 1940-1942;
reporter, photographer, Washington Post, 1945-1947;
editor, public, Speed Age Magazine, Washington, 1947-1953;
manager, National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing News Bureau, Daytona Beach, Florida, 1953-1956;
sports broadcaster, NBC Radio Monitor, various locations, 1956-1959;
sports broadcaster, Stations WESH-television, WROD, Daytona Beach, 1956-1959;
director public relations, Atlanta International Raceway, 1959-1964;
manager automotive division, writer, production assistant, unit manager sports documentaries, Dynamic Films, Inc., 1964-1968;
public relations, American Motor Corporation, 1971-1975;
broadcaster, Mutual, ABC, NBC, 1968-1980;
writer, Popular Mechanics, Sat. Evening Post, Stock Car Racing, Argosy, SmallCars, Illustrated Speedway News, others, 1968-1980;
bureau chief, reporter, photographer, News-Journal, Daytona Beach, 1976-1980;
feature writer, Circle Track Magazine, Speed Age, Stock Car Racing, Racing Pictorial, others, 1980-1990;
columnist, various newspapers, 1980-1990;
feature writer, newspapers, magazines, books, since 1991. Stringer Boston Post, Globe, Herald-Traveler, 1937-1939.
Director press relations United States Grand Prix. Self-syndicated columnist Inside Auto Racing, Motorcade United States of America, 1956-1985.
Achievements
Membership
Chief photographers mate United States Coast Guard, 1942-1945. Member National Motorsports Press Association, Eastern Motorsports Press Association (1st place award in feature writing 1990), National Press Club, American Association Auto Racing Writers (vice president), National Press Photographers Association (charter, life), American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (Best Column of Year 1989), National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, Society Professional Journalists, Nikon Professional Superior vena cava syndrome, Florida Freelance Writers Association, Halifax History Society, Bay State Old Timers Racing Association, Williams Grove Old Timers, Indianapolis 500 Old Timers Club (charter, life).
Connections
Married Edith Lillian Macomber, July 9, 1938. 1 child, Howard (deceased).
