Bill Riley is a Charter Member of the Farmington 4-H Club in Washington Co. He became the Kansas 4-H Foundation Director responsible for Rock Springs 4-H Center, Lake Perry 4-H Camping Center, Southwest 4-H Camp and the Kansas 4-H Journal. In 1977 he left to direct the Arabian Horse Trust, but in 1985 he returned to lead the nation’ first successful privately funded multimillion-dollar state 4-H Foundation campaign. In 1986 he was named foundation president. Bill created four 4-H endowments to support programming, scholarships and internships, Rock Springs and the Foundation Future Fund. He planned for the future by creating a site plan for Rock Springs, an investment management system and a board recruitment and orientation model now used by other nonprofits.
Leadership Lodge, the Flint Hills Environmental Education Center, Hilltop Housing Area and 300-acre addition were among major projects completed at Rock Springs during his tenure as President. Bill retired in 2005, leaving the largest privately funded 4-H foundation in the nation. Bill’ continues to serve as member or chairman of several state and national foundation boards and consult on board governance. He mentors 4-H alumni through his endowed academic/leadership 4-H Riley Fellowship. Bill and his wife Erma, who he at Rock Springs 4-H Center, continue to use their financial resources, time, energy and talents to support Kansas 4-H. They have three children, all former 4-Hers, and four grandchildren.
