[1] Riley attended the local schools in Wheeling and West Virginia University before receiving a B.A.
[1] He served in the First World War, and practiced law in Marshall County, West Virginia.
[1] Riley was elected to a twelve-year term on the court in 1936, and reelected to another in 1948.
A Democrat, his death during the governorship of Republican Cecil H. Underwood enabled the first change to the political balance of the court in 18 years.
[1] Riley died of a heart attack in his home at the age of 63.