George Wiley
George Wiley | |
|---|---|
 Wiley (right) with Johnnie Tillmon (left) | |
| Born | February 26, 1931 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 8, 1973 (aged 42) Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, U.S. |
| Body discovered | Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Rhode Island (BS) Cornell University (PhD) |
| Children | 2, including Maya |
George Alvin Wiley (February 26, 1931 – August 8, 1973) was an American chemist and civil rights leader.[1]
Early life and education[]
Wiley was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of a postal clerk and one of six children. Wiley's family eventually moved to Warwick, Rhode Island.
Wiley earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island in 1953. He received a doctorate in organic chemistry from Cornell University in 1957. Wiley fulfilled a six-month ROTC obligation as a first lieutenant in the United States Army at Fort Lee, Virginia; and subsequently accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Career[]
Wiley taught for two years at the University of California, Berkeley, whereupon he took a teaching position at Syracuse University in 1960. That same year, he founded the Syracuse chapter of Congress of Racial Equality. He later was a founder of the National Welfare Rights Organization.[2]
He was listed on the Master list of Nixon's political opponents.
In August 1973, Wiley drowned while sailing in Chesapeake Bay.[2] The George Wiley Award for Exceptional Performance in Organic Chemistry for students at Syracuse University is named in his honor.[citation needed]
Personal life[]
Wiley was married and had two children. His daughter is civil rights activist and lawyer, Maya Wiley.[3]
On August 8, 1973, Wiley fell overboard while on a boat with his children on the Chesapeake Bay.[4] On August 12, 1973, Wiley's body was found on the shore of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland after a three-day search.[5]
References[]
- ^ Wiley, Maya (26 February 2020). "Today in 1931, my father, George A. Wiley, was born. I miss him every day". Tweet by Maya Wiley. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Dr. George Wiley Feared Drowned; Civil Rights Leader, 42, Who Headed Welfare Group, Is Sought Off Maryland. New York Times. August, 10, 1973.
- ^ "Maya Wiley's push for civil rights". Politico. July 21, 2014.
- ^ "Dr. George Wiley Feared Drowned". The New York Times. 1973-08-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ^ "Body of Dr. George Wiley Recovered and Identified". The New York Times. 1973-08-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
Further reading[]
- Carolyn P. DuBose: Champion of Welfare Rights. Ebony, April 1970, pp. 31-40 (excerpt (Google Books)
- Nick Kotz and Mary Lynn Kotz, A Passion for Equality: George Wiley and the Movement (New York: W.W. Norton, 1977). ISBN 0-393-07517-6
External links[]
- Wiley, George Alvin (1931-1973) at blackpast.org
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- 1931 births
- 1973 deaths
- American community activists
- Activists from New Jersey
- Activists from Rhode Island
- Cornell University alumni
- People from Bayonne, New Jersey
- People from Warwick, Rhode Island
- Syracuse University faculty
- University of California, Berkeley faculty
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- University of Rhode Island alumni
- Deaths by drowning
- Accidental deaths in Maryland