It is our sad duty to inform you that Riley Maynard, journalist and professor at SIUE, has died after a battle with cancer. He taught generations of journalists at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 1981 until his retirement several years ago, co-authored books and research, and in his younger years, reported for news stations from Alabama and Tennessee to Pennsylvania. A full obituary story was published this week in the SIUE Alestle.
The last time he attended a St. Louis Pro event, he snarked me that he was actually there for the Sigma Delta Chi meeting. It took me a hot minute to remember that that was our name way back in the day when SPJ was a journalist fraternity. For me and my family it is a personal loss, as Riley was a friend and colleague to both me and my father, and a sad loss for the media industry and educational community. Our condolences go to his family in this time.
For those who would like to remember Riley, a memorial will take place 2-5 p.m. at the Dunham Hall TV studio at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Oct. 21.