James McIlvaine Riley
Encyclopedia
James McIlvaine Riley (May 16, 1849 - May 6, 1911) entered the Virginia Military Institute
(VMI) in the fall of 1866. Born in St. Louis, Missouri
, Riley was always a favorite with classmates, and was a good public speaker and athlete. He was a member of VMI's first baseball
team in the fall of 1866, playing second base
and eventually serving as the team's captain
. James Frank Hopkins
, Greenfield Quarles
and Riley soon became close friends and founded Sigma Nu
Fraternity. Riley was elected the first Commander (or President) of the chapter at VMI, and served as the first Regent of Sigma Nu fraternity, a position he held for ten years. He died at age 61 and is buried in a plot in Bellefontaine Cemetery near the St. Louis Alumni chapter.
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
(VMI) in the fall of 1866. Born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Riley was always a favorite with classmates, and was a good public speaker and athlete. He was a member of VMI's first baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team in the fall of 1866, playing second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and eventually serving as the team's captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
. James Frank Hopkins
James Frank Hopkins
James Frank Hopkins was a Confederate Army volunteer and founder of the Sigma Nu fraternity at the VMI.- Civil War :...
, Greenfield Quarles
Greenfield Quarles
Greenfield Quarles was one of the founders of Sigma Nu fraternity.Born in Christian County, Kentucky, April 1, 1847. Greenfield Quarles entered the Confederate service at the age of 16 as an aide to his uncle General William A. Quarles. He served until he was captured during the Second Battle of...
and Riley soon became close friends and founded Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
Fraternity. Riley was elected the first Commander (or President) of the chapter at VMI, and served as the first Regent of Sigma Nu fraternity, a position he held for ten years. He died at age 61 and is buried in a plot in Bellefontaine Cemetery near the St. Louis Alumni chapter.