Sec. Dick Riley looks forward to 10th decade

Furman University alumnus Sec. Richard Riley ’54 was the guest of honor during a celebration marking his 90th birthday Jan. 2. Dozens of friends and family members gathered to honor Riley, two-term South Carolina governor and U.S. education secretary under President Bill Clinton. WYFF News 4 covered the event. Riley remarked that he is most proud of the Education Improvement Act that passed during his governorship – legislation that impacted the entire country and led to his appointment as secretary of education.

When asked what it feels like to be 90, he said, “It feels like you’re 90 years old. However, it’s a good feeling. I’m really lucky to be 90, and I have 90,000 friends.”