AFTER THE WORLD WAR II

Asplundh Tree Company

     Gone, but still an influence on a second generation of tree trimmers 23 years after his death in 1974.  May 25, 1998 would have marked the 37th anniversary of Donald E. Miles becoming General Foreman for the Asplundh Tree Expert Company.  His time was cut short with his unforeseen death on December 3, 1974 after 27 years of service to the Hornell, New York based tree crew.

     Donald was born in Brookfield, Pennsylvania and raised near Troupsburg, New York along with his ten siblings.  He served his country as a rifleman for the U.S. Air Force stationed in Germany during World War II.  After the War he married Marian Caple and started his career with Asplundh Tree Expert Company.  Settling down near Hornell, NY and raising eight children.  The oldest, Darwin E. Miles worked along beside his father for a few years before his death in 1974.

     Donald was hired by Willie Brooks in the late forties.  According to his time-books he became General Forman of his own Hornell based crew on May 25, 1951.  Over the years several have worked under his foremanship.  Long-tem crew members have been George W. Fronk, Harold Bossard, Arthur "Bob" Turner and long time friend and neighbor Robert Ray.

     Mr. Miles took great dignity in his position as General Foreman.  He looked out for his crew, his equipment and the environment.  On one occasion while trimming in North Hornell, the police were summoned to the dilemma of an elderly lady's black cat was stuck way up in a tall tree.  After finding out what the problem was from the Officer, Mr. Miles reached the scared cat with the bucket truck returning it to his appreciative owner.  Another incident while cutting down a tree it was discovered that the tree housed a nest of flying squirrels.  The squirrels were brought home by Mr. Miles and raised as pets by his family.  As his youngest daughter, the squirrels were well cared for and brought great enjoyment to us all.

     Donald Miles and his crew received several awards for their safety precautions.  In 1964, the crew consisting of Donald Miles, Robert Ray, George A. Fronk, and Harold Bossard received the Five Star Safety Award.  As a young girl I remember my father remarking that one of his supervisors commended him on having the cleanest trucks in his district.  The trucks were brought home at least two weekends a month where my sister and I would proceed to wash and clean them thoroughly.  It was always exciting to see those two big orange trucks driving into the yard.  We always wanted to play on them but the only way we could get up there was by getting out the wash buckets and going to work.  We earned a whopping big $2.00 a piece and maybe a ride in the bucket.  For young children in the 1960's it was quite a big deal.  To this day I get a lump in my throat and tears in the eyes when I see one of those bucket or chipper trucks on the highway.

     It's kind of ironical that a neighborhood boy Michael Ray is now the General Foreman of the Asplundh Tree Crew.  Michael is the nephew of Robert Ray.  George Fronk's son is one of Mike's crew.  Three of the four crew members receiving the Five Star Award in 1964 have had a second generation family member to chose Asplundh Tree Expert Company as a career.

(Written by Marlene Andes for the Asplundh Tree Expert Company Magazine 1998)

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