He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a second lieutenant bombardier.
After serving in the military, he attended North Carolina State University, where he played baseball.
A member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Utley possessed a nationally known collection of Hank Greenberg photographs and memorabilia.
In 1999, his book - co-authored with Scott Verner - The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936-1938 was published by McFarland Press.
[1] His efforts as executive director of what was initially called the Boys Club made it possible for girls to join the institution.