Joint-Masters David Semmes and Mildred Riddell move off at the head of the Old Dominion field from a meet at the Honorable and Mrs. Joseph W. Barr’s Houyhnhnm Farm near Hume, Virginia / Douglas Lees photo
David Hopkins Semmes—longtime Master of the Old Dominion Hounds (VA), amateur steeplechase rider, and deep-water sailor—died peacefully at his home, Indian Run Farm, near Flint Hill, Virginia, on New Years Day, just four days shy of his eighty-seventh birthday.
Born in Washington, D.C., Semmes graduated from Episcopal High School then served a tour of duty in World War II as an aviation radio crewman. He graduated from Princeton in 1949, and in 1950 served in Army intelligence on the Pusan perimeter during the Korean conflict. He worked as a government service officer in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong before returning to Washington to practice law.
Semmes managed intellectual property for forty-one years, notably patenting the so-called “black box” used on airplanes, and the technology used for protective vests for jockeys.
David Semmes in the 1970s riding at the Casanova Point-to-Point / Douglas Lees photo
David Semmes was a talented sailor, crewing on the 48-foot yawl “The Fool’s Cap” in trans-Atlantic races to Bermuda and Europe.
Semmes was a well-known figure in the local horse world, having ridden more than one hundred point-to-point and steeplechase races from 1966 to 1986. He chiefly rode in the competitive Seven Corners owner-rider timber series.
Semmes was selected for the Francis Thornton Greene Award in 2008 for years of volunteer service to the industry.
He also served two terms on the board of directors for the Great Meadow Foundation.
“David had been instrumental in designing protection of the trademarks (for Great Meadow) and our logos and names,” said friend and GMF president Rob Banner. “What a loss this is to the community.”
David’s father Harry Hodges Semmes had been a prominent patent attorney in Washington, who fought in both World Wars. He retired a Brigadier General and won three Distinguished Service Crosses. He authored “Portrait of Patton” about his time serving in both wars with good friend General George Patton’s tank brigade. The senior Semmes served as Joint-MFH for the Potomac Hunt (MD).
Semmes was married fifty-nine years to wife Dudley Nicolson Semmes, who died in 2009. He is survived by two daughters, Deryn Semmes Winchester of Arizona and Stratton Semmes of Flint Hill, and two grandchildren. Son David Gibson Semmes predeceased him, as did his brothers Harry (also Joint-Master of the Potomac Hunt who died last summer), Raphael, and Gibson.
“David was the epitome of a Virginia Gentleman,” said longtime friend Julia Bennet. “His passion for racing and hunting was infectious, and he put his heart and soul into his love of both sports. There will never be another like him.”
Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Semmes’ name can be made to the American Steeplechase Injured Jockeys Fund (P.O. Box 209, Northville, NY 12134) or the Mountain Laurel Montessori School (155 Biggs Drive, Front Royal, Va 22630.)
Posted January 7, 2015
First published in the Fauquier Times/Virginia News Group
David Semmes with Endless Mountain in the winner’s circle at the Blue Ridge Point-to-Point. Mary Motion in the irons. / Douglas Lees photo