Tom Riley’s Life and Times
1912 Born July 6, Harrisonburg, Va.
1932 Joins the Marine Corps
1935 Graduates from the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in civil engineering
1938 Marries Emma Jane Eddy on Sept. 29, after meeting her on a blind date while visiting Portland, Ore.
1941-45 Marine Corps service during World War II, where he wins four Bronze Stars among other honors
1964 Retires from Marine Corps as brigadier general after serving as Corps’ inspector general and chief of staff at Camp Pendleton
1974 Receives August phone call from Gov. Ronald Reagan urging him to accept appointment to the Board of Supervisors; accepts after consulting with friends
1988 Survives recall campaign over his support for development in his South County district
1990 Takes lead role in shepherding airport expansion; $62-million Thomas F. Riley Terminal at John Wayne Airport opens in September
1994 Gen. Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park named for him in December after he works with developers to carve out the 475 acres of open land; Orange County declares bankruptcy
1995 Retires from the Board of Supervisors in December, happy with his long legacy and success in developing South County, but also regretting that he presided over the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation’s history
Source: Times reports; Researched by LORENZA MUNOZ / For The Times
