Because
I usually travel during after-work hours, the Baxley business is closed when I
drive by on U.S. 1 North. Regardless, I
glance to see whether I can catch a glimpse of its proprietor. I hadn’t seen him since 1976, when I left the
St. Simons unit of the Georgia Air National Guard.
June 6 was
different. I was on the road early, so I
walked into Miles Tractor Company and asked to speak to Capt. Frank Miles. He’d just left to run a few errands in town,
but I got to meet his wife, Loretta. The
next day, I stopped again. And there he
was.
It’d been 41
years since we’d last talked. But within
minutes, we picked up a decades-old conversation. And it was as if Santa Claus had slipped down
the chimney on the cusp of summer, delivering a you-can’t-buy-this-anywhere
gift.
There’s a story
in every life. In the case of Frank
Miles, there’s probably a book on the honorable way to live for 87 years. Here’s a snapshot:
§ Born
on Feb. 15, 1930, in the teeth of the Great Depression.
§ Grew
up plowing a mule on his family’s farm.
§ Graduated
from Appling County High in 1947.
§ After
finishing two years at ABAC, bought a Farmall Super A tractor on credit.
§ Planted
sweet corn and hauled it to Atlanta to sell, but crop was a financial disaster.
§ Joined
the Air Force in 1951 so he could send money home, keeping the promise to his
daddy to pay for the tractor.
§ Fought
in the in the Korean War for 18 months.
§ Entered
the University of Georgia in 1955.
§ Ran
a campus-laundry route to supplement his $110-per-month GI Bill income.
§ Through
ROTC, earned the rank of second lieutenant.
§ Graduated
in 1957 and became principal of the old Ten Mile School.
§ Taught
vocational-agriculture at Odum High School in 1958-1959.
§ Rented
a room from Ben Pearce’s mother.
§ Wayne
County Superintendent Hershel Collins released him from contract to return home
to teach and help his parents.
§ In
1960, married Loretta, who was introduced to him by his sister, Christine.
§ Six
children—Jana, Eddie, Greta, twins Don and Jon, and Brack—presented Frank and
Loretta with eight grandchildren.
§ Lives
in his grandfather’s built-in-1887 house.
§ House
is shaded by massive oaks planted in 1900 by his Uncle Elzie Miles.
§ Longtime
active deacon in Ten Mile Baptist Church.
§ Purchased
tractor dealership in 1969.
§ In
1972, founded local Young Farmers organization, which quickly became Georgia’s
largest chapter.
§ After
30 years, retired from Air National Guard in 1984.
§ After
teaching 39 years, retired in 1995.
But after all
this, Frank Miles is far from retiring.
Daughter Greta commutes from Waycross to keep the company’s books. Loretta is the general manager, and son Brack
is the sales manager. His niece, Sharon
Foster, is behind the parts counter. Grandson Preston Miles is on the team,
too. Frank’s desk is still piled high
with work.
Back in our Air
National Guard days, I saluted Capt. Miles in respect of his rank. Today, I salute my friend for being a sterling
role model for all men on the eve of Father’s Day.
dnesmith@cninewspapers.com
