Clifford Gillies devoted his career to education and athletics in Washington, leaving a lasting legacy as a teacher, coach, principal, and administrator. He began his career in 1951 at Monroe High School, where he taught and coached, before moving into various administrative roles, including principal at Monroe, Snohomish, and Mariner High Schools. His excellence in leadership was nationally recognized when he was named one of 20 outstanding principals in the United States in 1974 and one of 60 outstanding secondary school principals in 1978.

Gillies’ impact extended beyond individual schools. He served on the Northwest District One Executive Board from 1961-1968 and on the WIAA Executive Board from 1968-1975. After a brief tenure as an administrative assistant, he was named Executive Director of the WIAA in 1982, a role he held for 11 years. During his tenure, he guided significant initiatives, including restructuring the state football playoff system, developing a drug education program, and creating the student scholarship and participation recognition awards. He also served on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Executive Board from 1988-1991, serving as President from 1990-1991.

An accomplished author with over 200 professional articles and two books to his name, Gillies has received numerous honors, including the Hal Moe Meritorious Award, the WIAA Meritorious Service Award, the Gareth Giles Award, the Washington State University Alumni Achievement Award, the Everett Herald Outstanding Achievement in Sports Award, and the National Federation Citation Award. Through decades of service, Cliff Gillies exemplified dedication to both education and interscholastic athletics.