Historic Miles Collection Given To OM Archives

Bill Miles (center), a 1959 graduate of the Department of Journalism At Ole Miss, has given his extensive collection of papers and photographs to Ole Miss.

Miles began his career as a reporter, became owner of a newspaper, published magazines and operated one of the state’s most successful advertising and public relations agencies before serving 12 years in the Mississippi Legislature. He engineered the successful political campaigns for many, ranging from Speaker Billy McCoy to Rep. Steve Holland to the late congressman Jamie Whitten. He is native of Ittawamba County.

Miles covered the Ole Miss riots in 1962 and later ran the successful campaign for Gov. Paul B. Johnson, who won with a slogan “Stand Tall With Paul”. On hand for ceremonies at the J.D. Williams Library were were Charles Mitchell (left), Assistant Dean, and Will Norton (right) Dean, Meek School of Journalism and New Media.

The Miles collection is especially valuable as it includes daily diaries Mr. Miles kept during his legislative career. He chaired the powerful Transportation Committee for many years and is credited with providing the vision and leadership for the modern day transportation infrastructure for Mississippi. Many political and business leaders who have known and worked with Miles over his long and distinguished career attended the event, held Monday, April 29.