Joe and Katherine Nance donated 100 seedlings to the City of Harrison in honor of two special friends who meant a lot to their family and to the community. The trees were donated in memory of the late Joe Miller and Bill Stirtiz.
“These men did so much for their communities. We just wanted to do something in their honor,” Katherine said.
William P. Stiritz (Bill) is known for growing up hunting and fishing in Jasper and being the grandson of Dr. William Bradley. His mom died at an early age, and he lived with his grandparents.
Stiritz was a successful businessman who became the president of the Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri. He continues to support his hometown and purchased Mountain Top and Bradley Park which he presented to the city. He has also been very generous with his donations to the Resource Council.
The late Joe Miller said, “I grew up chasing hogs and chickens on the banks of Crooked Creek.”
He remembered loading chickens in a railroad car headed for New York City as a young man. He was on the first football team for Harrison High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas as a lieutenant in the ROTC. He worked with his father in the family hardware business until he was called into military service in WWII.
When he returned to Harrison, he got significantly involved in the community and the family business. He served on a bank board and was on the board of trustees in the early days of the Boone County Hospital. He was one of the founding members of the Board of Trustees for North Arkansas College in 1974. Miller was instrumental in bringing in new industry to Harrison. He was awarded an appreciation award for remodeling the old Boone County Jail into the battered women and children’s shelter, as it was known then. He was also very supportive of Share and Care and a Rotarian for more than 50 consecutive years.
“Both men have made huge contributions to our area, and we were thrilled to present these seedlings to the city. We hope Bill and Joe can be remembered for many, many years as these trees continue to grow and provide shade for future generations,” she said.
The trees pictured were planted several years ago and a great example of how this community loves beautiful trees.