Danny was born on September 4, 1950, at Sedalia Hospital. He was the son of the late Daniel Black and Kathleen White Miles. He is survived by two daughters, Katherine Miles Mueller and her husband, Mark Mueller, Overland Park KS, and Emily Kazmaier and her husband, Jason Kazmaier, Liberty MO; one son, Thomas Miles and his spouse, Nataliya, Cartagena, Columbia. Seven beloved grandchildren, Jonathan Kazmaier, Daniel B. Miles IV, Nicholas Kazmaier, Katherine Kazmaier, Sophia Miles, Emma Mueller, and Lydia Kazmaier, Two sisters, Ellen Miles-Taylor, Warrensburg, and Janie Miles-Smith and her husband, Paul, Kansas City; one brother, Frank Miles, Warsaw; many nieces and nephews.
Danny lived in Warsaw during his early youth. He attended Warsaw Elementary School for several years. He moved in 1960 to Chevy Chase, Maryland, where his father was Chief of Staff/Administrative Assistant to U.S. Senator Edward V. Long of Missouri. Danny attended school at Our Lady of Lourdes Parochial School in Bethesda, Maryland. He later attended and graduated from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was a member of the tennis team. He personally witnessed the funeral procession and ceremony at the U.S. Capitol for the funeral of President John F. Kennedy and many other historical events while residing as a young man in that area. Danny later attended St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, KS, with a double major in History and Political Science, graduating in 1972. Upon graduation, he returned to the Clinton area to work for the family newspaper business first as Editor of the Clinton Eye eventually becoming both editor and publisher of the Clinton Eye and Clinton Daily Democrat.
Danny married Katherine MacCarthy on January 27th, 1973, in San Diego, California.
Commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army National Guard in 1980, Danny later rose to the rank of Major. During his time in the National Guard, he served abroad in Panama, Honduras, Japan, and was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. While serving the military he taught at the Defense Information School and attended the Army War College and served as a Public Information Officer at the Pentagon.
Danny’s passion for democratic politics was instilled in him by his parents and grandparents, which led to his activism in serving as the Democratic Committee Chair, 4th Congressional District, President of the Missouri Young Democrats, and active participation in the campaign to elect Congressman Ike Skelton. Danny was a former president of the Rotary Club, served on the board of the Clinton Housing Authority for 35 years, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge, VFW and The American Legion. Danny also served the Boys Scouts of America as Webelos leader and honored with the Heart of America Silver Beaver Award.
Danny had a passion for history, which was evident in many of his daily columns, Milestones, published in the Clinton Daily Democrat. When not focusing on his love for the Civil War and World War I & II, his consistent research made him an expert on the histories of both Henry and Benton counties. Danny believed in the power of local community engagement as a means to bring positive and measurable change and the power of giving back. Danny was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.
He had a great affection for any opportunity to spend time with his children supporting many of their athletic, personal, and career achievements throughout their lifetime. He cherished his seven grandchildren attending many school events, extracurricular activities and vacationing coast to coast. He fostered in his children and grandchildren a sense of humor which was always appreciated and will live on in many delightful memories.
Danny was preceded in death by one son, Daniel B. Miles III, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a car accident at the age of 17, his parents, Daniel B. Miles Sr. and Kathleen White Miles, and brother, Mahlon W. Miles.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.
