Jack Riley competed in football and track& field during his days at Denison. As a fullback for the Big Red grid squad, Riley earned All-Ohio honors in 1941, a year in which DU went 7-1-1. That same year he set a school record which still stands today for the most yards per carry in a single season, covering an average of 8.3 yards every time he ran the ball, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Riley was a two-year letterman in track & field, excelling in the broad jump. He was undefeated during the 1941 season and was the Ohio Athletic conference broad jump champion. While at Denison, Riley was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and he served as the chapter’s alumni adviser in the early 70’s.  He also participated as a member of his 50th class reunion committee.

Riley was a first lieutenant and flight test engineer in the U.S. Army Air Corps before beginning his 45-year career as an engineer and sales manager for the Burger Iron Co.