George Wiley

George Alvin Wiley (February 26, 1931 – August 8, 1973) was an American chemist and civil rights leader. He was a founder of the National Welfare Rights Organization.

For the cyclist, see George E. Wiley.
George Wiley
Wiley (right) with Johnnie Tillmon (left)
Born(1931-02-26)February 26, 1931[1]
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 1973(1973-08-08) (aged 42)
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, U.S.
Body discoveredChesapeake Beach, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Rhode Island (BS)
Cornell University (PhD)
Employer(s)Syracuse University
University of California, Berkeley
Children2, including Maya

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. Working with Jerrold Meinwald, he received a doctorate in organic chemistry from Cornell University in 1957.[2] 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. In November 1961, he founded the Syracuse chapter of Congress of Racial Equality. He was only the third Black faculty member at Syracuse.[3] He later was a founder of the National Welfare Rights Organization.[4]

He was listed on the Master list of Nixon's political opponents.

The George Wiley Award for Exceptional Performance in Organic Chemistry for students at Syracuse University is named in his honor.[5]

Personal life

Wiley married and had two children. His daughter is civil rights activist and lawyer, Maya Wiley.[6]

Death

On August 8, 1973, Wiley fell overboard while on a boat with his children on the Chesapeake Bay.[4][7] On August 12, 1973, Wiley's body was found on the shore of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland after a three-day search.[8]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Wiley, George Alvin (June 1957). I: The structure of flavothebaone II. The synthesis of some benzo- (1', 2', 5, 6)- norbornenes (PhD). Cornell University. OCLC 745509949. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  3. Searing, Robert (3 February 2022). "SU professor George Wiley led the struggle to end segregation in Syracuse". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  4. "DR. GEORGE WILEY FEARED DROWNED". The New York Times. 1973-08-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  5. "Chemistry Department honors students with annual awards". Syracuse University News. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  6. "Maya Wiley's push for civil rights". Politico. July 21, 2014.
  7. "Dr. George Wiley Feared Drowned". The New York Times. 1973-08-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  8. "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
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