Wiles Hallock, CoSIDA's first president, passes away
Former Pacific-10 Conference Commissioner C. Wiles Hallock, who served as the first President of CoSIDA, died at his home in Walnut Creek, Calif. on Monday (July 14). He was 91.
Hallock was commissioner of the Pacific-10 from 1971-1983. Before joining what was the Pac-8 Conference, Hallock was commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference. He also was NCAA director of public relations from 1963-67.
Hallock also was the first president of the CoSIDA organization, serving that role in 1955-56. He was the Sports Information Director at the University of Wyoming from 1949-1960.
Hallock oversaw the expansion of the Pacific-8 to the Pacific-10 in 1978. While serving as Pac-10 commissioner, Hallock held prominent positions as a member of the NCAA Football Television Committee and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee.
He was born February 17, 1918, in Denver and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver in 1939. He ran track in college and served as track coach at Wyoming for five years.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Monday, July 27th, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lafayette-Orinda United Presbyterian Church at 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, California. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Sutter Hospice (or your local Hospice group) in memory of Wiles Hallock.
Hallock's full obituary follows.
C. Wiles Hallock February 17, 1918 - July 13, 2009
Resident of Walnut Creek, California. Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend died peacefully at home at the age of 91.
Born in Denver, Colorado, he graduated from East High School in Denver. He then graduated from Denver University in 1939. While at the university he was affiliated with the Lamba Chi Alpha fraternity and was a three-year letterman in track. He was the Big Seven Conference 220 and 440-yard champion in 1938 and 1939.
Wiles enlisted in the Navy in March of 1941 where he served until the end of World War II in 1945. While stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, he met and married his wife of 65 years, Marjorie. She was a Navy wave. Wiles attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander Air Navigator and received an Air Medal for participating in over 24 combat missions from October 1944-December 1944.
Following the war and a brief career in radio broadcasting, Wiles moved to Laramie Wyoming, where he was the Sports Information Director at the University of Wyoming from 1949-1960. In August of 1960 he accepted the position of Sports Information Director at the University of California, Berkeley and moved to Lafayette.
After three years in this position he moved to Kansas City to work for the NCAA as Director of Public Relations. In 1968, Wiles moved again to serve as Commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference. While there he was instrumental in the creation of the Fiesta Bowl. In 1971 he returned to the Bay Area as Commissioner of the Pacific 8, soon to become the Pacific 10 athletic Conference. He was responsible for bringing Arizona and Arizona State into the Pacific 10 Conference and moving the conference office from San Francisco to Walnut Creek. He served in this position until his retirement in 1983.
During his lifetime career in intercollegiate sports, Wiles served on numerous committees. He was involved in the NCAA's football television plan and program for over 20 years.
His accomplishments in collegiate sports have been recognized over a 30-year period in many ways. Two awards which he valued the most were his election as first president of the College Sports Information Directors of America in 1954 and his receipt of that organization's highest honor in 1963.
He also was awarded the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics' prestigious James J. Corbett award in 1983.
Since his retirement, Wiles had traveled extensively with his wife, including involvement in many Elderhostel programs. He also enjoyed bridge, music, plays, and crosssword puzzles. Wiles was active in several service clubs and in the Lafayette-Orinda United Presbyterian Church where he was a member of the Noteables and served in the Seniors ministry.
Wiles is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Marjorie; son Michael of Walnut Creek, daughter Lucinda Rinne (James) of Mt. Shasta; four grandchildren: Rebeca Concklin, Kevin Rinne, David Hallock, Carter Hallock and five great-grandchildren: Chanelle Rinne, Carter Rinne, Cooper Rinne, Winnie Concklin and Korbben Concklin. One sister, Mary Ruth Pelan of Seattle survives him. A brother, John Robert, proceeded him in death.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Monday, July 27th, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lafayette-Orinda United Presbyterian Church at 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, California. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Sutter Hospice (or your local Hospice group) in memory of Wiles Hallock.