Shelley Riley Moore

Who is Shelley Riley Moore?

Shelley Riley Moore is the wife of former Governor of West Virginia Arch A. Moore, Jr. of West Virginia and served as that state's First Lady from 1969 to 1977 and 1985 to 1989.

Moore was born Shelley Riley in Miami, Florida, on July 15, 1926, the daughter of Sadie Wardlow and Jacob Lewis Riley. While earning a degree in education at West Virginia University, she met Arch A. Moore, Jr., whom she married in 1949. She taught school in Pennsylvania for several years before her husband entered politics. After serving for 12 years in the United States House of Representatives, Arch Moore was elected Governor. As First Lady, she gave speeches throughout West Virginia and appeared at college campuses, vocational facilities, library dedication ceremonies, and before civic and religious groups. She took an interest in promoting the West Virginia Governor's Mansion and offered public tours of the mansion. She also conducted televised tours and started the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation to help restore and maintain the mansion.