Cover photo for Bruce Miles's Obituary
Bruce Miles Profile Photo

Bruce Miles

April 11, 1935 — June 8, 2017

Bruce Miles

Bruce R. Miles, 82, of College Station, TX, passed away on June 8, 2017. Bruce was born in Hutchison, Kansas on April 11, 1935. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Miles, and sisters Margaret Sauter and Patricia Harper. He is survived by his brother Larry Miles, wife of 56 years, Dianne Miles, daughters Kara Stockton, Andrea Connell and Laurie Terrell, son Michael Miles, 7 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.

Bruce graduated with a Bachelor of Forestry degree in 1958, through a cooperative scholarship program between Texas A&M University and Louisiana State University. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery, he joined the Texas Forest Service in 1959 – rising through the ranks from Assistant Forester to Director of the agency. He served as the 6th State Forester of Texas until his retirement in 1996, whereupon he was bestowed the prestigious title of Director Emeritus by the Texas A & M System. Miles was a delegate of the United States to the IX World Forestry Congress in Mexico City in 1986 and is a member of the Mexico-Texas Exchange Commission. During his 37-year career he was responsible for many innovative forest management programs including the enactment of an industry-funded tree planting program, the Texas Reforestation Foundation.

Bruce's awards include: Gifford Pinchot Medal in 1997 by the Society of American Foresters, Distinguished Service to Forestry Award from the Texas Society of American Foresters in 1981, the Distinguished Performance Award for Administration in 1982 and induction in to the Texas Forestry Hall of Fame in 2008.

Bruce was an active and respected member in the First Baptist Church in College Station for over 40 years. After retirement, he took great joy in working at Habitat for Humanity, serving as a docent at the George Bush library, and helping to establish “The Chainsaw Gang” - a group of retired professionals who worked pro bono projects when called upon. In each of these endeavors, the task at hand only served to facilitate his love for the people involved. He was a servant leader, unafraid to get his hands dirty and always taking the extra step to befriend and help those around him.

Bruce’s long resume of professional accomplishments and contributions do not begin to describe him. His impressive professional life represents a small fraction of his impact on the world. His true nature is found in the love of his family, the admiration of his co-workers, and the gratitude of every person he helped along the way. His sincere appreciation and love of people and the world around him is still evident in every handwritten letter he sent, every name he remembered, and every anonymous good deed he performed. Bruce had a sincere interest in those around him, as well as humor and wit that could put the most anxious person at ease. He was widely loved and will be missed in many circles. He was a gentleman, and an example of a life well lived.

A visitation will be held at Hillier Funeral Home in College Station on Monday, June 12 from 5pm-7pm. Funeral services will be held at Hillier Funeral Home in College Station at 11am on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840. Please designate the Bruce R. Miles Endowed Scholarship in the memo line, or use the following link online: www.givenow@tamu.edu.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bruce Miles, please visit our flower store.

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