Stephen F. Austin Athletics Mourns the Loss of Earl Milner
9/1/2017 8:01:00 AM | Track & Field
A very loyal supporter of the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks, the longtime SFA track & field and cross country starter passed away this past week after liver complications
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin athletics and the track and field and cross country programs are mourning the recent loss of longtime starter, loyal supporter and proud alumnus Earl Milner Jr. Well known in the track and field community, Milner passed away Wednesday in Dallas from liver complications due to a cancerous growth in his internal organs.
A manager for the track and field programs while a student at SFA, Milner etched his legacy in Nacogdoches for a longtime to come. He worked as a starter for over 18 years at every home track and field meet at SFA, ensuring student-athlete runners received a fair and equal start for each race. Additionally, Milner helped out as a starter when SFA hosted Southland Conference track and field and cross country championship meets, not to mention high school track and field meets held on campus.
"SFA and the entire athletic department is saddened by the loss of our dear friend, Earl Milner", SFA track and field head coach Phil Olson said on Thursday. "He was so good to the young men and women in our program, especially our managers. Earl was a proud alumnus of SFA and showed off his class ring with such pleasure."
Coach Olson continued, "Earl was a manager while a student here, so he always appreciated the work and dedication of each one of our managers through the years. Funny enough, he used to always secretly pass a few dollars to an unsuspecting manager who would be working particularly hard at one of our home meets. That was typical of Earl and his generosity."
In 2016, SFA athletics decided to name the high school meet held at Fletcher Garner Track "The Earl Milner Invitational" for Milner's dedication to SFA track and field.
"Earl worked as a starter for 18 plus years at every home track and field meet we had at SFA, as well as several conference cross country and track and field championships we hosted", remarked coach Olson. "We were so enamored with Earl and his great heart that beginning in 2016, we named the high school meet we hosted at SFA 'The Earl Milner Invitational'. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Buffy and the entire Milner family. Our friend will be sorely missed."
Earl is survived by his loving wife, Virginia "Buffy" Milner, of Rockwall, Texas.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. at Eastridge Church of Christ in Rockwall, located at: 670 N Stodghill Rd, Rockwall, TX 75087.
In lieu of flowers, the Milner family has asked that donations be made to the SFA Varsity Club – Earl Milner Invitational, P.O. Box 13010, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962.
-SFA-
A manager for the track and field programs while a student at SFA, Milner etched his legacy in Nacogdoches for a longtime to come. He worked as a starter for over 18 years at every home track and field meet at SFA, ensuring student-athlete runners received a fair and equal start for each race. Additionally, Milner helped out as a starter when SFA hosted Southland Conference track and field and cross country championship meets, not to mention high school track and field meets held on campus.
"SFA and the entire athletic department is saddened by the loss of our dear friend, Earl Milner", SFA track and field head coach Phil Olson said on Thursday. "He was so good to the young men and women in our program, especially our managers. Earl was a proud alumnus of SFA and showed off his class ring with such pleasure."
Coach Olson continued, "Earl was a manager while a student here, so he always appreciated the work and dedication of each one of our managers through the years. Funny enough, he used to always secretly pass a few dollars to an unsuspecting manager who would be working particularly hard at one of our home meets. That was typical of Earl and his generosity."
In 2016, SFA athletics decided to name the high school meet held at Fletcher Garner Track "The Earl Milner Invitational" for Milner's dedication to SFA track and field.
"Earl worked as a starter for 18 plus years at every home track and field meet we had at SFA, as well as several conference cross country and track and field championships we hosted", remarked coach Olson. "We were so enamored with Earl and his great heart that beginning in 2016, we named the high school meet we hosted at SFA 'The Earl Milner Invitational'. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Buffy and the entire Milner family. Our friend will be sorely missed."
Earl is survived by his loving wife, Virginia "Buffy" Milner, of Rockwall, Texas.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. at Eastridge Church of Christ in Rockwall, located at: 670 N Stodghill Rd, Rockwall, TX 75087.
In lieu of flowers, the Milner family has asked that donations be made to the SFA Varsity Club – Earl Milner Invitational, P.O. Box 13010, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962.
-SFA-
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