Publisher George A. Miles Passes On To Eternal Reward

Former Frontier and Holt County Independent publisher George A. "Shorty" Miles met his final deadline this week passing on to his eternal reward after 73 years. Shorty passed away at the Good Samaritan Home in Atkinson on Tuesday afternoon.

Visitation will be held from 3-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2006, at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a 7 p.m. rosary.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. onFriday, March 24, 2006, atSt.

Patrick's Church in O'Neill. Interment will be in the O'Neill Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the O'Neill America Legion Simonson Post #93.

Shorty was born May 18, 1932, in O'Neill to Gerald and Beatrice (Murphy) Miles. Shorty was the youngest of four children. Shorty attended St. Mary's Academy and graduated in 1950.

Shorty entered the Air Force after graduation and married Colleen Kennedy in 1954. Shorty and Dot were blessed with five children. Shelly, Susan, Tom, Terry and Heather.

Shorty was discharged from the service after the passing of his uncle Fay Miles and returned home to help his father and brother publish the independent.

Shorty, like his father before him, was born into the newspaper business making him a third generation printer and publisher. Shorty being a newspaperman was also very active in the community serving as a city councilman, O'Neill Cemetery Board member, O'Neill Country Club board member, St. Mary's junior high basketball coach, St. Mary's School Board member, St. Patrick's Finance Committee member and was an active O'Neill fireman for 35 years. Shorty was also an active member of the Nebraska Press Association serving as president of the organization as well as on the press service advertising board. Shorty was appointed by Governor Charles Thone as a Nebraska State Highway Commissioner for district eight and served as commissioner for many years.

Shorty spent a lot of time working at the paper and till the very end his major concern was if the paper got out. Shorty was also an avid golfer and enjoyed nothing better than golfing a few rounds with friends.

Shorty is survived by his wife Colleen; his daughters Shelly Coulter of Tavistock, England, and Heather Pardun of O'Neill; sons Tom and Terry of O'Neill, 13 grandchildren; and two sisters Mary Lowery and I,anone Bosn of O'Neill.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, G.E. and Beatrice Miles; one brother, Bob; and a daughter, Susan.