Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 3, 1994 TAG: 9402030205
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Tilley was chosen Wednesday by the executive council as the new head of the VHSL when Gillespie retires in July.
"I'm very excited by this opportunity. My feelings are that there is no one who has a greater appreciation for what the VHSL represents and what services it provides," said Tilley.
"There are many changes in education, concerns that confront not only the VHSL, but all state associations. How the league responds to them is a big matter."
Tilley points out that the VHSL is constantly dealing with court cases, sportsmanship incidents, safety of students, chemical awareness and the issue of AIDS.
"There are so many things that did not exist or weren't even thought about five or 10 years ago."
Tilley, 43, joined the VHSL in 1986 and has worked mainly with debate and drama - two outside activities controlled by the VHSL - as well as running high school athletics for the state. He came from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association where he worked only with sports for a group that worked only with high school athletics.
"Frankly, when I was growing up, I didn't know about state associations," Tilley said. "I'm not sure if [many] students have a concept of state associations. They participate in athletics, but they don't often realize there is an organization behind them," said Tilley.
Memo: longer version ran in the New River edition.