1. Wilson Riles was the first African American to be elected to statewide office in California.
11 Facts About Wilson Riles
1. 2.
Wilson Riles was elected three times as California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
3.
Wilson Riles had been serving as a deputy superintendent under Rafferty and had almost no name recognition when he launched his campaign to replace Rafferty.
4.
Wilson Riles was elected to a second term in 1974 and a third term in 1978.
5.
Wilson Riles was the first African American to be elected to statewide office in California.
6.
Wilson Riles was the first African American in the nation to be elected state superintendent of schools.
7.
Wilson Riles was born June 27,1917, near Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
8.
Wilson Riles was orphaned at an early age and was raised by family friends.
9.
Wilson Riles was married to the former Mary Louise Phillips.
10.
Wilson Riles died April 1,1999, at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, California.
11.
Wilson Riles founded the Wilson Riles Archives and Institute for Education in Sacramento as a resource for historical information about K-12 public education in California.