Dr. Niles Perkins, of Bowdoin College football and track fame and a leader in state medical and health circles, began The Perkins saga as a stellar tackle and outstanding field event performer at Augusta's Cony High School.

While at Cony he threw a record 180 feet in the hammer, and as a prep All-American at Governor Dummer Academy he reached 210 feet. He made instant gridiron and weight history in his brief Bowdoin career. His career at Bowdoin ended that year with a transfer to the University of Maine, marriage and necessary employment.

His association with the weights did not end there, however. Following Navy duty, he returned to Bowdoin for its pre-med course and while there was Jack Magee's valuable aide, instructing Polar Bear weightmen.

While studying at Tufts Medical School, he became assistant track coach at Tufts University. He developed several standout stars including Tom Bane and Bob Backus.

Niles fought his own plucky fights, including a comeback from osteomyelitis which had left him with a shortened and stiffened right arm and an even longer struggle back from polio that hit his left arm and shoulder while in the Navy, and a jammed back disc later.

His medical career began as an intern at the former Maine General Hospital. Then moves from Bingham, Bath and Rumford and finally coming to Portland as a specialist in cardiology and internal medicine. Niles Perkins was a prime mover and chief of planning of the Penobscot Bay Medical Center and was its initial executive director.

Not long after his death, the new Glen Cove facility dedicated its library and ambulatory unit in his memory and set up a memorial trust.

Niles is survived by his widow, the former Pearl Louise McKay, of Newport, a daughter Bernice Ward, and son Niles 1. Perkins, III.