A Guy Named Charley

Charles P. Riney has spent decades battling health problems, but through it all, he has refused to be average.

The longtime educator discovered he had lupus in 1984 when he spent a month in the hospital. Suffering from kidney issues, he took prednisone and gained sixty pounds in a single week. He was swollen everywhere, and his kidneys almost shut down.

He suffered his first heart attack during graduation day at Guilford High School in Rockford, Illinois, where he was teaching. Six years later, he suffered another one.

Despite his health challenges, he kept a positive attitude—even if a former student was shaving his groin area in preparation for surgery.

Join the author as he celebrates his love for education and a contagious enthusiasm for refusing to let health problems limit his prospects in A Guy Named Charley.


It’s been my good fortune that Charley Riney and I have been friends for more than 50 years. He and I attended Loras College together, and as an athlete, he displayed intensity and focus, was highly competitive and always had a 'can do' attitude. Those qualities, and more, have served him well over the years in his various roles as teacher, coach, and businessman, and they continue to serve and guide him as he now battles numerous serious health issues.
—Greg Gumbel, CBS sports announcer