Feb. 12, 2004

(Dallas) - Colorful Texas wildcatter Ellison Miles, who literally changed the landscape of Wise County decades ago and brought prosperity to the region, wore many hats during his life. One of the largest hats was labeled "philanthropist." While he was alive, Miles supported students in the Dallas County Community College District with a $1 million gift to the Rising Star program. He also supported his colleagues in the oil and gas industry with a $3.5 million gift to DCCCD for the Ellison Miles Geotechnology Institute, which is housed at Brookhaven College in north Dallas.

Following his death in January 2004, Ellison Miles continues to live on through the legacy of the Miles Foundation, which has given a $7 million pledge to DCCCD for the Rising Star program. The record-setting DCCCD Foundation gift brings Miles' generosity to the district and its students to almost $12 million, supporting higher education and professional education. The pledge, announced today at the Miles Institute at Brookhaven College, means that thousands of students eventually will earn associate's degrees and certificates from DCCCD with Miles' help. Currently, the foundation's Rising Star endowment and scholarship funds that have been raised now totals $12.9 million; the Miles Foundation pledge brings that amount to $19.9 million. The DCCCD Foundation's goal is to raise a $30 million endowment.

Officials from DCCCD, the DCCCD Foundation and the Miles Production Company - the benefactor's oil and gas business that he formed in 1946 - participated in the announcement. Each of DCCCD's seven independently accredited colleges will receive $1 million from the pledge for the Rising Star program, which provides tuition and books to eligible graduating high school students throughout Dallas County.

"Mr. Miles' recent commitment adds another milestone for the Dallas County Community College District and the Rising Star program," said Dr. Jesus "Jess" Carreon, chancellor of DCCCD. "He already was regarded as our 'legacy leader' and community champion with his past landmark contributions to the district, particularly the Ellison Miles Geotechnology Institute and his previous $1 million gift to Rising Star. This recent pledge makes Mr. Miles' legendary mark on our college district even greater. Our district and our foundation truly are fortunate and honored to have been associated with this outstanding man. Most of all, his kindness and generosity will continue to help our students fulfill their dreams and become productive citizens in our community."

Robert Thornton III, chair of the DCCCD Foundation's board of directors, agreed. He said, "Ellison Miles loved our students, our college district and this community. His commitment to the Rising Star program was at the core of his heart; he strongly believed that it is vital to improving the quality of life in Dallas County and to improving the lives of children who are in most need of help. He believed that Rising Star was the best way to get large numbers of non-mainstream children into the work force as productive citizens - to give them a real shot at the American dream….We are and always will be grateful to him."

"Mr. Miles is one of the top community college donors in the country," said Betheny Reid, executive director of the DCCCD Foundation. "In fact, the Council for Resource Development (affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges) previously recognized him for his generosity and, with this pledge, he contributed more than $12 million to the foundation of one of the largest community college districts in the U.S. - DCCCD! We are honored to receive this $7 million pledge and remember Mr. Miles for his service as one of the original members of the DCCCD Foundation's board of directors and as a director emeritus. He was a true friend to DCCCD for 30 years."

Miles' life experiences - from "roughneck" in the Humble oil fields to college student to decorated World War II pilot to "wildcatter" and businessman - all contributed to his role as philanthropist in later years. A Texas native who grew up in Liberty, Miles enrolled for a year at Texas A&M University and finished his bachelor's degree at the University of Houston, where he could be close to his work - literally. He became a B-17 bomber pilot and flew 25 combat missions in the European theater with his crew and plane, called the "Woolaroc." He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters and a Presidential Citation.

After receiving an honorable discharge as captain, Miles returned to the oil and gas industry, forming the Miles Production Company in 1946 and later organizing Trio Drilling Company in 1949. He and geologist John A. Jackson staked their claim to fame with the Boonesville discovery in 1951 of natural gas in Wise County, Texas. Eventually, after years of negotiation with federal regulators, Miles secured permission to build a 350-mile pipeline to move gas from Wise County to Chicago, which was completed in 1957. Miles eventually dissolved Trio Drilling and decided to move the Miles Production Company office to Jack County, where drilling continues.

Throughout his career, Miles believed in the value of an education - which led him to donate $3.5 million to build the Miles Institute at Brookhaven College. The institute is a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that is used primarily to provide training for professionals in the oil and gas industry - one of only four such training centers in the country. Developed from a partnership with the Dallas Geological Society and the Dallas Geophysical Society, the facility is designed to provide training in PC- and LINUX-based methods for handling oil and gas exploration data. It will grow to include GPS AND GIS training and offers industry seminars both nationally and internationally in its 300-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium and its 100-seat seminar room, equipped with uplink and downlink capabilities. The institute also features three computer training laboratories, a small seminar room and a professional library. Its focus is on technical applications and continuing education for already-employed professionals.

Additionally, Miles' previous contributions to Rising Star have touched the lives of more than several thousand DCCCD students. His $300,000 donation to establish the Miles Production Company Scholarship, which is based on financial need, is still awarded. He also provided funds to establish the Miles Production Company Excellence in Teaching Award, which gives a cash award and plaque each year to DCCCD teachers or staff members who excel in their profession.

Currently, the Rising Star program enrolls more than 2,000 students annually; its retention rate is 91 percent, compared to the average retention rate in Texas community colleges, which is 52 percent. The program is funded through private donations (like the Miles pledge) from friends and leaders throughout the community. The DCCCD Foundation allots none of its private financial support for administrative or operational costs, and it guarantees that 100 percent of the contributions received directly support the costs of student tuition and books.

During the pledge announcement, guests viewed a video presentation of Ellison Miles' life and also were able to visit an exhibit that included memorabilia from the DCCCD donor's life. DCCCD Rising Star students were on hand to celebrate the generous pledge and discuss how the program has had a positive effect on their lives and future dreams.

For more information, contact the DCCCD Foundation at 214.860.2160.