Former WIAA executive director Gillies dies

RENTON, Wash.– Former WIAA executive director Clifford Allen Gillies passed away on May 24 at his home in South Bend, Washington.

Details of his death have not been confirmed, although it appears to be of natural causes.

Clifford Gillies served as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) executive director for 11 years from 1982-93 and was a charter member of the WIAA Hall of Fame class, which was inducted on April 21.

Gillies began his educational career in 1951 as a teacher and coach at Monroe High School.

He later served in a number of administrative capacities in Washington state high schools, including stints as the principal at Monroe, Snohomish and Mariner High Schools.

In 1974 he was honored as one of 20 outstanding principals in the nation and in 1978 as one of 60 outstanding secondary school principals in the United States.

Gillies began working with the WIAA as a member of the Northwest District One executive board from 1961-68 and served as a member of the WIAA executive board from 1968-1975.

After retiring from the Mukilteo School District, Gillies served one year as an administrative assistant at the WIAA before being named the association’s executive director in 1982.

He also served as a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Executive Board of Directors from 1988-91 and was that board’s president from 1990-91.

During Gillies’ reign as WIAA executive director, the association restructured the state football playoff system, developed a drug education program and the student scholarship/participation recognition award.

He also authored two books.