BROOKSVILLE — The rolling hills of Bracken County are preparing for the final return of a favorite son.
Don Galloway, 71, born Donald Poe Galloway to the late Paul S. and Malee Poe Galloway of Augusta, in 1937, died in Reno, Nev., Jan. 8, following a stroke, family members said.
Burial plans are incomplete, but friends believe he will be buried near his parents in Concord Cemetery.
Born at Hayswood Hospital in Maysville, Galloway lived for his first two years in Augusta.
“Then we moved to Brooksville to escape the Ohio River floods,” said Paul Galloway, his older brother.
“I was 12 years old when he was born … One of my early memories of Don was when he was about 2 years old; he used to climb on me when I was laying on the floor and use me like a trampoline,” Paul said Monday. “It was the kind of relationship an older brother remembers.”
Galloway was also a member of the Bracken County High School varsity basketball team which won a regional title and participated in the state championship his senior year, his brother said.
Galloway, an actor and graduate of Bracken County High School Class of 1955, was possibly best known for his role as Sgt. Ed Brown, the faithful sidekick of Raymond Burr in the television series “Ironsides,” 1967-1975.
Galloway’s acting career began taking root after he spent 1955-1957 the U.S. Army, then the next four years getting his degree in drama at the University of Kentucky, his brother said.
Broadway beckoned, so off to New York City he went in 1961. His career began with a stint as a NBC page for the “Tonight” show; his entire acting career spanned three decades and two sea coasts. His television debut came in the daytime drama “The Secret Storm” in 1962. He also appeared in the movie “The Rare Breed ” with James Stewart and as JoBeth Williams’ character’s husband in “The Big Chill.” He had more than 70 television and screen credits to his name during his career, Paul Galloway said.
Asked what they remembered of Galloway from the his younger days, Bracken County residents agreed on one thing, “…he was a nice guy.”
“My cousin knew him really well in California. When we went out there several years ago to visit, we met with him and had a really nice time,” said Roberta Shepherd, of Brooksville. “I didn’t know him all that well; I knew he was raised here and I use to see him when he would go around with his daddy when (Paul Galloway Sr.) was fixing appliances; his family lived between Bladeston and Brooksville, and he attended the Concord Methodist Church.”
Nauva Harding of Brooksville, knew Galloway from church, as well as growing up with the future stage, screen and television star.
“He used to do the best Milton Berle, he did a very good impression, sounded just like him,” Harding said, “(Galloway) always wanting to be in dramatics even before he went to college.”
Don Galloway played a cop beside veteran actor Burr for eight years, on “Ironsides,” but later in life completed real police academy training and at 55 years old became an auxiliary police officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office; a year later he retired from the entertainment industry, and the sheriff’s office, his brother said.
“(Becoming a police officer) was a labor of love. When he retired he moved to New Hampshire, we visited him there about 13 years ago,” Paul Galloway said. “He wrote a weekly column for the Manchester Union Leader newspaper; (while retired from entertainment) he was also a consultant and corporate spokesperson.”
Galloway and his wife, Linda Marie moved to Reno, Nev. about a year ago, his brother said.
“He suffered a stroke on Christmas Day and remained hospitalized until his death,” Paul Galloway said.
With daughters living on opposite coasts and several family members hoping to attend a memorial service in one place, coordinating the memorial has taken some time, Galloway said.
“We want to do it right and with a little time I think we can come together shortly,” he said.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 276.
For more area news, go to www.maysville-online.com.
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