James McIlvaine Riley

Who was James McIlvaine Riley?

James McIlvaine Riley is one of the founders of the Sigma Nu fraternity. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he entered the Virginia Military Institute in the fall of 1866. Riley 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. While at VMI, James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles and Riley became close friends and founded Sigma Nu fraternity. Riley was elected the first Commander 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.