Wilson Riles
Encyclopedia
Wilson Camanza Riles was born June 27, 1917 near Alexandria
, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
, and died April 1, 1999 at Mercy Hospital, Sacramento, California
.
Riles graduated from Northern Arizona State University in 1940 and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces
during World War II
. From 1971 to 1983 he was California
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Riles was the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in California. Nationwide he was also the first African-American to be elected state superintendent of schools. In 1973 he was awarded the Spingarn Medal
by the NAACP for outstanding achievement by an African American.
He is survived by his wife Mary Louise Phillips.
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Rapides Parish, Louisiana
-Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:...
, and died April 1, 1999 at Mercy Hospital, Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
Riles graduated from Northern Arizona State University in 1940 and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. From 1971 to 1983 he was California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Riles was the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in California. Nationwide he was also the first African-American to be elected state superintendent of schools. In 1973 he was awarded the Spingarn Medal
Spingarn Medal
The Spingarn Medal is awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for outstanding achievement by an African American....
by the NAACP for outstanding achievement by an African American.
He is survived by his wife Mary Louise Phillips.