Obit: Douglas Coy Miles Helped Create CTR Ring and Other Famous LDS Artifacts

Obit: Douglas Coy Miles Helped Create CTR Ring and Other Famous LDS Artifacts

Peggy Fletcher Stack
07/11/2008 02:17 PM MDT

Few Mormons will know his name, but most will know the artifacts that Douglas Coy Miles helped create and produce for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints - the CTR ring, the Duty to God award, Young Women's medallion, the Relief Society pendant and Articles of Faith wall hangings.

Miles, a natural-born salesman who died July 4 of congestive heart failure at 91, was one of those behind-the-scenes players who friends and family members say brought energy and enthusiasm to the church he loved.

He was born in Baker, Ore., to Earl and Verdie Miles, third of four children. He served an East Central States LDS mission, 1936-38. He met Blanche Bowen, at Brigham Young University and they married Jan. 26, 1943.

After the war, Miles earned a law degree from the University of Utah, which is where he met Marion D. Hanks, a future LDS general authority, who became his lifelong friend. The two taught early morning seminary together at Salt Lake City's West High School during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

They worked on a program to improve the guided tours on Temple Square. Hanks went on to other assignments with the church hierarchy while Miles remained a tour guide on the Square for some 20 years.

Professionally, Miles established O.C. Tanner's first national sales force. In 1955, he joined the L.G. Balfour Co. as national sales manager, and worked with Chevrolet and GM, creating original incentive programs. He soon used that expertise to help provide physical rewards for LDS programs.

For the winners of all-church athletic competitions, Miles developed a trophy using a heavy round cast medallion (silver, gold, bronze) on an ebony base. To signify the completion of young women or young men requirements, Miles created little glass disks that could be glued on felt bandelos.

When someone with the Boy Scouts observed that the LDS Church was the only religion to not have some kind of Boy Scout award or pin, officials asked Miles to develop one.

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The Salt Lake Tribune

Few Mormons will know his name, but most will know the artifacts that Douglas Coy Miles helped create and produce for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints - the CTR ring, the Duty to God award, Young Women's medallion, the Relief Society pendant and Articles of Faith wall hangings.
Miles, a natural-born salesman who died July 4 of congestive heart failure at 91, was one of those behind-the-scenes players who friends and family members say brought energy and enthusiasm to the church he loved.
He was born in Baker, Ore., to Earl and Verdie Miles, third of four children. He served an East Central States LDS mission, 1936-38. He met Blanche Bowen, at Brigham Young University and they married Jan. 26, 1943.
After the war, Miles earned a law degree from the University of Utah, which is where he met Marion D. Hanks, a future LDS general authority, who became his lifelong friend. The two taught early morning seminary together at Salt Lake City's West High School during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
They worked on a program to improve the guided tours on Temple Square. Hanks went on to other assignments with the church hierarchy while Miles remained a tour guide on the Square for some 20 years.
Professionally, Miles established O.C. Tanner's first national sales force. In 1955, he joined the L.G. Balfour Co. as national sales manager, and worked with Chevrolet and GM, creating original incentive programs. He soon used that expertise to help provide physical rewards for LDS programs.
For the winners of all-church athletic competitions, Miles developed a trophy using a heavy round cast medallion (silver, gold, bronze) on an ebony base. To signify the completion of young women or young men requirements, Miles created little glass disks that could be glued on felt bandelos.
When someone with the Boy Scouts observed that the LDS Church was the only religion to not have some kind of Boy Scout award or pin, officials asked Miles to develop one.
"Dad came up with the Duty to God award," said Kent Miles, his son. "I believe it was Avaard Fairbanks who did the original sculpture of the buffalo skull used for the award."
When General Relief Society President Belle Spafford wanted to use the remaining funds in her budget to offer the church a lasting legacy, she turned to Miles for suggestions. He connected her with Bill Pera, who owned Kashaba Carpets.
"They were able to obtain a stunning rug that now is in the main hall [of the LDS Administration Building] at 47 E. South Temple," Kent Miles said. "At that time Dad also donated a beautiful Persian rug that still, I believe, is in the entrance to the First Presidency office."