Roger Kiley


Roger Joseph Kiley was an American football player and later a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Education and career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kiley received a Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame Law School in 1923. He was a college athletic coach from 1922 to 1932, as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame in 1923, as head coach at Loyola University Chicago from 1923 to 1927, and as an assistant coach at Auburn University from 1927 to 1932. He was a professional football player for the Chicago Cardinals in 1923. He was in private practice of law in Chicago from 1933 to 1940. He was a member of the Chicago Board of Alderman from 1933 to 1940. He was a Judge of the Superior Court of Cook County in Illinois in 1940. He was a Judge of the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District in Chicago from 1941 to 1961.

College football career

A native of Chicago, Kiley was a prominent end for Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and one of the sports' first great pass catchers, paired with Eddie Anderson and catching passes from George Gipp.

Federal judicial service

Kiley was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on June 20, 1961, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge William Lynn Parkinson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 1961, and received his commission on June 30, 1961. He assumed senior status on January 1, 1974. His service was terminated on September 6, 1974, due to his death in River Forest, Illinois.