Tilley was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wake Forest University in 1966 and a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1969.
He was an assistant United States attorney of the Middle District of North Carolina from 1971 to 1974.
He was the United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina from 1974 to 1977.
[1] Tilley was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on April 26, 1988, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina vacated by Judge Hiram Hamilton Ward.