William B. "Buck" Giles

William "Buck" Giles

Giles, c. 1925
Born May 7, 1903
Blissfield, Michigan
Died April 15, 1985
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Citizenship United States
Alma mater University of Michigan
Known for Baseball player and attorney

William Bliss "Buck" Giles (May 7, 1903 – April 15, 1985) was an American baseball player and attorney. He played second base for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team in 1924 and 1925. In 1925, he became the first Michigan baseball player to win the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1980.

University of Michigan

A native of Blissfield, Michigan, Giles attended the University of Michigan where he played second base for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team from 1923 to 1925. He was Michigan's leadoff hitter in 1924 and 1925, and he helped lead the team to the Big Ten Conference championship in 1924.[1] In April 1925, he became the first Michigan baseball player to win the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor.[2][3][4]

Gile received his undergraduate degree from Michigan in 1924, remained at Michigan for law school, and received his law degree in 1927.[5][6] He had an opportunity to play professional baseball but opted instead to practice law.

In October 1956, longtime Michigan baseball coach Ray Fisher selected Giles as a second baseman for his all-time Michigan baseball team.[7] In 1980, Giles was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the third induction class. He was the fourth Michigan baseball player (following Bill Freehan, Bennie Oosterbaan, and George Sisler) to be inducted into the Hall of Honor.[8]

Later years

After leaving Michigan, Giles practiced corporate and probate law in Detroit.[5] He was also a director of the Transportation Advertising Co. and Burton Abstract & Title Co., an associate professor of law at the Detroit College of Law.[9][10]

Giles was married. He and his wife, Margaret, had two daughters: Gail and Greta.[5] Gail died in 1953 at age 17, after a short illness, at the family home in Detroit.[9] He later served as counsel for Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. In 1971, he was elected as the president of the University of Michigan's graduate "M" Club.[11] Giles died in April 1985 at Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[12]

Giles retired from his law practice in 1978. He died in April 1985 at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Rich Adler. Baseball at the University of Michigan. p. 67.
  2. ↑ "Ball Player Gets Conference Medal: Giles Given Scholarship and Athletic Award at U. of M.". Detroit Free Press. April 5, 1925. p. 23.
  3. ↑ Michigan's All-Time Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipients. GoBlue (University of Michigan Athletics official website). Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  4. ↑ Bruce Madej; Rob Toonkel; Mike Pearson. Michigan: Champions of the West. p. 35.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "William B. Giles, 81, retired attorney". April 17, 1985. p. 9C.
  6. ↑ "Student Profile: William Bliss Giles, Class of 1927". University of Michigan Law School.
  7. ↑ Bruce Madej; Rob Toonkel; Mike Pearson. Michigan: Champions of the West. p. 127.
  8. ↑ University of Michigan Hall of Honor. GoBlue (University of Michigan Athletics official website). Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  9. 1 2 "Obituaries". Detroit Free Press. September 22, 1953. p. 27.
  10. ↑ "We Congratulate . . .". Detroit Free Press. May 7, 1948. p. 4.
  11. ↑ "Grad 'M' Club Picks President". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan). May 22, 1971.
  12. ↑ Death record for William B. Giles. Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records. Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996 [database on-line].
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