Don Hester

1946 National Champion

1946 National Champion

Don's publicity photo

Don’s publicity photo

Don Hester was a fabulously talented bike racer and a good friend.

Fellow racing star Bob Bergen regarded Don as the best bike rider he had ever known.

District championships, national races and even international events rolled under Don’s wheels.  He competed on the track and on the road.  In 1953 he competed as an American team member in the U.S. – Japan amateur cycling competition.

Don’s most successful year for racing was 1946.

National Champion Medal

National Champion Medal

Late 1950's Frejus road bike

Late 1950’s Frejus road bike

Don won a lot of races...

Don won a lot of races…

In the spring he left the Brooklyn Naval Yards where he had been serving during the war years.  Don came home, and proceeded to win every race he entered including the National Championships in Columbus, Ohio.

At the ’46 championship road race Don survived a terrible crash in which a rider named Ted Brill was killed.