Roy Wiley Obituary

Wiley, Roy Wilmer

age 87, passed away suddenly on April 4, 2022, after recovering from hip surgery. He was the beloved son of Charles L. Wiley, former candidate for Congress and founder of Post 802 of the American Legion, and Emily M. Beltz. Roy had three children, Roy Charles Wiley, Cindy Wiley Hindel, and Todd Wiley. He is survived by his wife of 33 years Bobbie Huskey Wiley, his son Roy, and his wife Tery, his daughter Cindy, and her husband Scott, nine grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.

Roy was educated at Onarga Military High School and at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He had a successful career in the newspaper business beginning as an apprentice copy clerk at the Chicago Sun-Times. He became general assignment reporter in the detective bureau, automotive editor, marketing and stock columnist and executive financial editor at the Chicago Sun-Times.

In the public relations field, he was senior vice president at the Financial Relations Board serving as a financial consultant to publicly held corporations. He was director of communications at Weber Cohn and Riley advertising agency, general manager at Ogilvy and Mather public relations agency, managing director at Hill & Knowlton public relations agency, and manager of external communications at Navistar International Corporation, truck, and engine company. He provided expertise in media relations, leadership, management, marketing, strategic, internal, corporate communications, and investor relations.

Roy was recipient of twelve national and regional awards for public and investor relations programs, including a 1981 Gold Quill from the International Association of Business Communications and a national H&K Award for Communications Excellence promoting juvenile justice reform.

Wiley served as press secretary for an Illinois gubernatorial candidate and as a media advisor to two mayors of the City of Chicago. He served as director of the Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago, he founded the Lake County Illinois Press Club, was an officer in the Chicago Newspaper Reporter's Association, governor of the Chicago Press Club, member of the Chicago Press Veterans Association and trustee of the Glenbrook Fire Protection District.

A Memorial Service will be held on June 1, at 4:00 pm at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago. More details will be on the Central Chapel website at www.chapelc.com.

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