Throughout Jim Riley's life, he wore many different hats. Jim was a founding professor of Palo Alto College and dedicated 22 years of his life as a professor of Accounting and Business, serving as the first chair of the Business Department and the first president of the Faculty Senate.

He also served in the Texas National Air Guard, and he was pastor at Lighthouse Church of Lakehills in Lakehills, Texas. He also was in the Texas Community College Teachers Association (TCCTA), where he had served as state treasurer and state secretary.

Jim Riley was born on July 7, 1946 in Lubbock, Texas, to Hubert P. Riley and Jesse L. Wombie. He died on Oct. 5, 2007, at the age of 61.

Jim's favorite thing about teaching Accounting was sharing his experience, and telling his students how to succeed in life. He also liked pushing his students to move forward to obtain a four-year degree. After his family, his students were the most important thing to him.

A former Palo Alto student wrote in the guest book of Jim's obituary said," To the Riley Family, Just want you to know he was an inspiration to me in so many ways. He was so encouraging and showed me what path in life I should pursue. I am on my way to being an Accountant because of him. My prayers extend to you for your loss. God Bless..."

"He believed in education for everyone, for all students, and that education was possible for all students," said Elsa Anaya, chair of the Business Department.

Karen Marcotte, professor of Humanities, said, Jim was a very approachable and very non-threatening. He had very high standards for his students, but he worked with them to achieve their goals. He worked very hard to find different ways to teach and motivate his students to learn Accounting.

Jim was also a family man. For 38 years, he was married to Carol Ford Riley whom he lovingly called his girlfriend. He was a father of two children, Joshua and Amber. He was also grandfather to one grandson, Aedan.

"Jim was a great man who was dedicated to his faith, his family and his students," said his wife.

His many friends and family will miss Jim. Anaya said that she will miss sharing music with him and dancing in the hallway. She will also miss his soft-spoken demeanor and his soft blue, sparkling Hawaiian ocean eyes.

Marcotte, also a founding faculty of Palo Alto, had known Jim for 23 years. He was the first person faculty went to for major issues, said Marcotte.

"One of my fondest memories of Jim is the night the first PAC faculty received their first promotion and tenure," said Marcotte. "We were all at the Board meeting and went out to Earl Abel's for coffee and pie afterward to celebrate."

Memorial contributions may be made in Jim's memory to the Riley Memorial Accounting Scholarship or to the American Cancer Society.