Background
Riley, John Hally was born on January 19, 1947 in New York City. Son of John Joseph and Eileen Johanna (McDermott) Riley.
Riley, John Hally was born on January 19, 1947 in New York City. Son of John Joseph and Eileen Johanna (McDermott) Riley.
Bachelor in Economic, Boston College, 1968. Juris Doctor, Cornell Law School, 1972.
Riley went to Washington District of Columbia in 1978 as an aide to United States. Senator David Durenberger (R-Minnesota) and was his chief counsel and later, his chief of staff In 1982, Riley received a Presidential appointment to serve as head of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) from 1983-1989 in the administration of President Ronald West. Reagan under Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole. He is credited for recruiting West. Graham Claytor Junior. to come out of retirement and head National Railroad Passenger Corporation for eleven years.
Riley was a longtime National Railroad Passenger Corporation supporter, and worked tirelessly for its funding during his years in Washington.
In 1990, Riley was named as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. He resigned in 1991 when he was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor in his brain.
Despite two major surgeries at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and two periods of remission during which he returned to rail leadership roles in Minnesota, he died of brain cancer in March, 1994, and was buried in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
Board directors National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Washington, since 1983, Union Station Redevelopment, Washington, since 1983. Field director Massachusetts Republican State Committee, Boston, 1968-1969, John Sears for Mayor, Boston, 1967. State chairman Massachusetts Young Republican, Boston, 1968.
Served with United States Army Reserve, 1969-1975.
Married Karen Jane Youngquist, March 22, 1975.