David Riley – Attorney
Whitney Riley – Attorney
Olivia Riley – Age 2.5
Tell us how you and your spouse met and how long you have been married.
We met through a work colleague in 2013, a year or so after we both moved to Paducah. David invited me to a Rotaract (Young Rotarians) meeting, followed by dinner at Max’s. My (Whitney’s) mother passed away of cancer a few months after we met. David and my dad devised a plan to make our engagement extra special by including my mother in our special day. Completely to my surprise, David proposed to me on the M/V Jackie Englert, a Crounse Corporation towboat named after her. We got married on my parents’ wedding anniversary, April 6th. We will celebrate our 8th anniversary this year.
Tell us about where each of you grew up and how you landed in Paducah.
David – I was born and raised in Graves County. I attended Mayfield High School and then went to Transylvania University in Lexington. After graduation, I completed law and masters degrees at the University of Kentucky. Afterwards, I came home to Western Kentucky for a federal judicial clerkship with the Honorable Thomas B. Russell of the United States District Court in Paducah.
Whitney – I grew up in Maysville, a quaint river town in northern Kentucky. I attended St. Patrick’s School from 1st through 12th grade and then went to Centre College in Danville. My parents moved from Maysville to Paducah while I was in college. I moved to Paducah to join a local law firm after obtaining my law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law.
We are now business partners at the law firm of Grumley, Riley & Stewart, P.S.C. (formerly Bradley, Freed & Grumley, P.S.C.). Whitney’s primary practice areas are estate planning, probate, and business law, while David’s primary focus is litigation and the representation of government boards.
What is your favorite holiday?
That’s a tough one, but Fourth of July probably takes the cake. We celebrate with family and friends at Kentucky Lake where Whitney’s family has a lake house. Our lake subdivision has a Fourth of July celebration that’s hard to beat! The festivities begin with a golf cart parade and ice cream social in the morning, midday boating, and a band and elaborate fireworks show at night. Watching our daughter, Olivia, join in the fun makes it even better!
What is your favorite thing about Paducah?
Paducah is obviously a wonderful place to raise a family and we are taking full advantage of that! It has also blessed us with the opportunity to have challenging and fulfilling careers. Establishing ourselves here has presented us with opportunities early in our careers that would not have come until much later, if at all, had we settled in a larger city. We are immensely grateful for the personal and professional mentors we have had along the way and for the community’s encouragement and confidence in us. It is also a major help that both of our families are nearby.
How do you spend your summer breaks?
We love to travel, especially internationally. The pandemic and having a toddler have temporarily clipped our wings, but this has piqued an interest in exploring our national parks. Between the two of us, we have visited Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Badlands, Acadia, and US Virgin Islands National Parks since the pandemic began. We live in a beautiful country, and these trips have given us an even greater appreciation of it.
What does your spouse do to make you feel special?
David – Between family and work, I don’t get many quiet times to simply read a book, catch up on the Wall Street Journal, reflect on my faith, or simply sit and decompress. On the weekends, however, Whitney will chase our daughter early in the morning while giving me a little time to myself. This helps me recharge and focus on my family and priorities. I wouldn’t be able to do this without Whitney, and the fact that she gives up her personal time for me makes me feel special and appreciated.
Whitney – David is incredibly selfless and thoughtful. We aren’t big gift givers, but he will write the most touching cards and put together some impressive food and wine spreads for special occasions.
How do you manage work and family time?
Our work life balance comes down to planning, communication, and flexibility. At first glance, working and owning a business together would appear to make it hard to separate work and family time. Work can easily be brought home and home life can be brought to work, if you let it. That said, as long as we’re clear with each other about who has what and when, we work together to cover all the bases (share phone calendars are key!). We also recognized early on that our strengths and weaknesses complement each other.
Does your family have a motto? If so, what is it?
Accumulate memories, not things.
What are the core values of your family?
We are people of faith and strive to treat others like we want to be treated. We have been very fortunate and recognize we didn’t do it alone. The investments others have made of their time, talent, and treasure in us has made all of the difference, and we have a responsibility to pass that on to others. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. We tell each other and our families that we love them every time we see them and enjoy as many experiences as we can together.
Do you have any family traditions?
For several years now, we have headed south to Florida between Christmas and New Year. The holidays are always a special time of year, but knowing there’s sun, sand, and seafood just on the other side is a bonus to the holiday season. We started doing this as a newly married couple to visit family friends in Longboat Key. Since Olivia came along, our parents have joined us so that she gets to build memories with them at the beach (and mom and dad can get away to the tiki hut on occasion!). It is a perfect way to end the year and recharge for the one ahead.
What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
David – Our daughter is strong-willed and independent, even as a toddler. You never quite know if she’s absorbing the lessons we try to convey. But when I see her express kindness to her cousins and school friends and see those lessons we’ve been teaching her put into action, my heart is full.
Whitney – One of the main reasons we are in Paducah is because both of our families are close. Olivia has several first cousins in Paducah and Mayfield, with another on the way! As a parent, I get the greatest joy out of watching her build relationships with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Do you have nicknames for your kids?
As our first child, Olivia has collected a lot of nicknames, some of which include Livie Lou, Tootie, and Ronnie, each coming from a different family member with its own back story! She is a funny little girl and currently enjoys getting a rise out of us by addressing David by his first name.
Questions for kids: What’s your favorite thing to do as a family?
Olivia – Age 2.5 – “Eat ice cream!”
