Wiley, S. Wirt (Samuel Wirt), 1878-

Wiley grew up on a farm near Peoria Illinois, and later attended Monmouth College and Yale University. Intending to be a minister, he was drawn to YMCA work by the prospect of active service to communities. He first worked for the Chicago and Minneapolis associations before joining the National Council in 1925 as associate general secretary of the Home Division. He became general secretary of the Rochester, New York association in 1929 and remained there until his retirement in 1939. He was also a trustee of George Williams and Springfield Colleges.

Wiley grew up on a farm near Peoria, Illinois. He received his B.A. from Monmouth College in 1901 and an M.A. from Yale in 1902. Intending to be a minister, he was drawn to YMCA work by the prospect of active service to communities. He worked in the Chicago association for two years, after which he was offered the position of executive secretary of its central branch. He declined and chose rather to tour Europe and study social service agencies there. On his return to the U.S. in 1906 he became the general secretary of the Minneapolis association, a post he held until 1925. During his term, a finance campaign for a new building was conducted and the building was completed just in time to serve the soldiers coming back from World War I. During this period, he also took special assignments as director of publicity for the War Work Council (1917-1918) and as special commissioner for the International Committee to South America (1921).

From 1925-1929 he went to work for the YMCA National Council as associate general secretary of the Home Division. He became general secretary of the Rochester, New York association in 1929 and remained there until his retirement in 1939. He was also a trustee of George Williams College from 1919-1925 and of Springfield College from 1929-1940.