David Skepner

David Skepner (????-September 11, 2001) was Riders In The Sky's manager from 1986 to 1997 and director of Riders Radio Theater. He died of a heart attack on September 11, 2001.

As Director of Riders Radio Theater (1988-1995)
Not much is known about Skepner's duties as director on Riders Radio Theater, except he himself volunteered to do the job. Steve Arwood (AKA Texas Bix Bender) later said that"[Skepner] didn't know what he was doing".

Riders Radio Theater Television Specials (1995-1996)
After previously getting the Riders fired from Tumbleweed Theater in 1986 because Paul Corbin (director of programming for TNN) didn't like him, Skepner and Corbin somehow patched things up in early 1990. In 1995, shortly after the final episode of Riders Radio Theater was taped, Skepner negotiated a contract with TNN to have the Riders do Riders Radio Theater as a series of television specials.

Fired from the Riders (1997)
In 1997, the Riders found evidence of major financial malfeasance by Skepner. It turned out that Skepner had been taking checks intended for the Riders and deposited them in his own personal account. The Riders immediately fired Skepner and replaced him with their booking agent Paul Lohr.