 Although Tilly rejected exchange theory, he considered Homans, one of exchange theory's creators, to be among the best writers in the history of sociology and he mentioned to the audience at the American Sociological Association where he accepted his Distinguished Scholarship Award (he always called it the Sorokin Award to his students its original name) that he wished that George Homans were alive so he could thank him.Charles Tilly died in the Bronx on April 29, 2008, from lymphoma.As he was fading in the hospital, he got one characteristic sentence out to early student Barry Wellman