Professor Emeritus Roy C. Easley, who taught in the kinesiology department for more than 30 years, died peacefully April 18. He was 85.

Aside from his teaching duties, Easley served as the director of Cal Poly Pomona's intramurals program for nearly three decades.

The Arkansas native moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was 6 years old. He was raised in Hawthorne and the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.

Talented in a variety of sports, Easley played football and wrestled at Los Angeles City College, where he also served on student government. He went on to finish his degree at Cal State LA, where he again balanced football, wrestling and student government involvement.

In the early 1960s, Easley taught and coached at West Covina High School. He coached wrestling briefly during that decade at Cal Poly Pomona before going on to coach football at Claremont Men's College (now known as Claremont McKenna College) and volleyball, basketball and other sports at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Easley, also an avid golfer, came to Cal Poly Pomona on a permanent basis in 1973, where he taught various sports courses, as well as classes on officiating sports. An accomplished dancer, he also taught ballroom dance classes on campus.

"He always liked to dance," said his son, Scott A. Easley. "He really developed a good program, and the classes were always full."

Easley retired in 2000, but he continued to teach in his department until 2005.

"He loved it," Scott A Easley said of his dad working at Cal Poly Pomona. "He said that he had the greatest job in the world. He is the one who taught me that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."

Roy also quilted and raffled them off for charities. Two quilts are still on campus.

Easley was married twice. His wives, Bonita and Donna, both preceded him in death. He is survived by his sons Lance and Scott A. Easley; his grandchildren Jacob, Ashley and Daniel; and his great grandchildren Noah, Ryder, Kylie and Jaxon.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, June 18 at One & All Church, 1404 W. Covina Boulevard in San Dimas.