Richard Riley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Riley
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Riley in 1997
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| 6th United States Secretary of Education | |
| In office January 21, 1993 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Lamar Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Rod Paige |
| 111th Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office January 10, 1979 – January 14, 1987 |
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| Lieutenant | Nancy Stevenson Michael R. Daniel |
| Preceded by | James B. Edwards |
| Succeeded by | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. |
| Member of the South Carolina Senate | |
| In office January 10, 1967 – January 11, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1967–1973) 2nd district (1973–1977) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Wilson Riley
January 2, 1933 Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ann Yarborough |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Furman University (BA) University of South Carolina (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1954–1955 |
Richard Wilson Riley (born January 2, 1933) is an American politician. He served as the sixth United States Secretary of Education from 1993 to 2001. He worked under President Bill Clinton. Before that, he was the 111th governor of South Carolina from 1979 to 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Riley is the only Democrat to serve two terms as governor in South Carolina since the state rules changed.
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Early Life and Education
Richard Riley was born on January 2, 1933. His hometown is Greenville, South Carolina. He went to Furman University and graduated in 1954. Later, he earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina.
Riley began his public service in the state government. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1963 to 1966. After that, he served in the South Carolina Senate from 1967 to 1977.
Governor of South Carolina (1979–1987)
Richard Riley was elected governor of South Carolina in 1978. During his first term, the state's rules were changed. This allowed governors to serve two terms in a row. Riley was re-elected in 1982. He served as governor until 1987.
As governor, Riley focused on improving education. He led the South Carolina Education Improvement Act of 1984. This was a big effort to make schools better across the state. Because of this, he was often called South Carolina’s "Education Governor."
He also started other important laws. These included the Medically Indigent Assistance Act. This was the first program of its kind in the country to help people who couldn't afford medical care. He also worked on the Employment Revitalization Act. This law helped coordinate job training programs.
United States Secretary of Education (1993–2001)
In 1993, President Bill Clinton asked Richard Riley to join his team. President Clinton appointed Riley as the United States Secretary of Education. In this role, Riley worked to improve schools across the entire country.
From 1997 to 2000, Riley helped create and run the America Reads Challenge. This program aimed to help children improve their reading skills. Riley served as Secretary of Education until President Clinton left office in 2001.
After Public Service
After leaving his role as Secretary of Education, Richard Riley continued to be involved in important work. He became a partner in a law firm. He also served on the board of the Albert Shanker Institute. This organization focuses on education issues.
Riley also became an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project. This group works globally to strengthen the Rule of Law. Their goal is to help communities become fairer and offer more opportunities.
Awards and Recognition
Richard Riley has received many honors for his work. In 1999, Furman University, where he studied, created the Richard W. Riley Institute. This institute focuses on government and public leadership.
In 2000, he received an award for supporting foreign language education. He often suggested that all students should learn a second language. In 2008, Walden University named its college of education after him. This honored his dedication to students and making education available to more people. Winthrop University also named its college of education after him in 2000.
TIME magazine recognized him in 2008. They named him among the Top Ten Best Cabinet Members in U.S. history. Many people, including The Christian Science Monitor, have called him "one of the great statesmen of education."
In 2018, his hometown of Greenville announced plans to honor him with a sculpture. This sculpture would represent his leadership and commitment to quality education for all children.
The Richard W. Riley Collection opened in 2018. It is at the University of South Carolina’s South Carolina Political Collections. This collection includes many photographs, speeches, and notes about his policy work. It also has letters and news clippings from his career.
Personal Life
Richard Riley and his wife, Ann O. Yarborough, had three sons and one daughter.
See also
- Bill Clinton Supreme Court candidates
