Don Hight

Don was born in Mellette County, SD, in 1920. He served as an Army paratrooper in World War II. After his return from the war, Don married Adeline Fott and together they started ranching in Jones County, SD, where they raised their two children Dan and Cheryl. In January of 1962, the farmer from small-town South Dakota made national news when he began a 70-mile cattle drive, trailing 1800 head of cattle from his Jones County ranch along the White River to Winner, SD. On the third day into the trip, a blizzard hit with temperatures below zero and winds reaching 35 miles per hour. As a result of his accomplishing this difficult drive, his story was picked up by the national news and Don was invited to appear in an episode of ''Rawhide'' which starred a young Clint Eastwood.