Samuel Boyce Wiley

Born on April 25, 1936, in the rural community of Ranlo, Gaston County, NC, he was the son of the late Mrs. Frankie Mitchem Meacham Wiley and the late Cecil Meacham, his birth father. His family name was changed by court order to that of his stepfather, the late James A. Wiley.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Livingston Wiley. whom he met at Gardner Webb Junior College. He is also survived by one daughter, Melissa Anne Wiley Sheek (Zane) of Greenville, and one son, Jonathan David Wiley of Concord, NC and one granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Sheek (Adam Thompson) and one grandson, Ian David Wiley.

Sam graduated from ASU with BS (1963), MA (1967) and Educational Specialist Degree (1973). He did additional studies at Florida Southern University, Univ. of Maryland and Furman University.

Sam taught in Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District (1963-66, 1967-68). During this time he earned his Master’s Degree while employed by ASU Dean of Men as counselor and dormitory manager.

His first administrative position was as principal of Brunson-Dargan Junior High School and Director of Adult Education for the Area One School District of Darlington, SC. In the Greenville School District Sam first served as assistant principal to Dr. Rudolph Gordon at J.L. Mann High School. He became acting principal at League Middle School then full principal and remained there for 9 years. For two years he served as principal of Greenville High School and finally ended his career as Director of Special Projects for the management of Federal and Special monies given to the School District.

During his educational career Sam and his school received numerous outstanding awards and recognitions. Three faculty members received the Young Educator of the Year Award from the local Jaycees; one teacher was recognized as Teacher of the Year for South Carolina. In the spring of 1982 League Middle School was chosen the first middle school to receive the Palmetto’s Finest Award. In the fall of 1983 then President Ronald Reagan invited 152 principals, including Sam, to the White House to receive the National Blue Ribbon School Award. This is our nation’s highest award for exemplary effectiveness in education. That year, League Middle was the only middle school in the Southeast and only one of two schools (middle and high) in SC to receive this award.

Personally, Sam was awarded the following honors: South Carolina PTA’s Outstanding Principal

of 1982-83; SC Association of Librarians awarded him their Administrator Award in 1983-84. Also in 1983-84 he received the Outstanding School Administrator annual award, the Principal of the Year Award for the state of South Carolina. He was noted in the May 1986 issue of the Greenville Magazine and in a February, 1981 feature article for his work in education in the School District of Greenville County.

After thirty-one years in public education, Sam retired. He became a handyman, landscaper and a finished carpenter. He also became a student of genealogy.

He served in the United States Air Force’s Air Weather Service, four years active and two years inactive. He served in Seoul, Korea and attached to Strategic Air Command at McDill AFB, Tampa, Florida.

He was a member of Pelham Road Baptist Church. Throughout his life Sam served in various responsibilities in different Baptist Churches: as Deacon, Building Committee member, Sunday School Teacher, greeter and usher.

Throughout his early years prior to retirement Sam was associated with various civic and educational organizations: Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Gamma Mu. He held membership in the Darlington Kiwanis Club.

It’s been a good life, but now it’s time to go home.