Decatur, GA---Miles Risher Willard, Jr., 84, passed away July 1, 2016, in Augusta, GA.
A native of Vandergrift, PA, Miles was predeceased by his father Miles Risher Willard, Sr., mother Charlotte Kelly Willard and brother William “Bill” Willard.
He attended the University of Kentucky and earned an athletic scholarship, lettering in football and baseball, and played freshman basketball. He was a starting defensive halfback in Kentucky’s victory in the 1952 Cotton Bowl, coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant. In the mid-fifties he played minor league baseball in Statesboro, GA, for the Statesboro Pilots.
After his service in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant he became a career educator serving in Mayfield and Henderson, KY, Warner Robins, GA, and retired from the DeKalb County GA School System having been principal at Coralwood, Midvale and Indian Creek elementary schools.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dawn Willard and son, Lance Willard, both of Decatur, GA and son Risher (Tally) Willard of Claxton, GA and granddaughter Jordan (Tim) Martin of Savannah, GA.
Graveside services will be held at a later date with burial in the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.