Howard Giles

Dr. Howard Giles, age 90, of Murray, died Monday, October 17, 2016 at 5:07 a.m. surrounded by his family at the Helmwood Healthcare Facility in Elizabethtown Kentucky.
Dr. Giles received his Bachelor of Science in 1949 from the University of Kentucky. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and Sigmi Xi honorary society. Following his graduation, he served his country in the Army during the Korean War.
He returned to Kentucky met and married Geneva Powell on Sept 11, 1954. They moved to Lexington, Kentucky where Howard completed his Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 1957 and then on to Lafayette, Indiana where he earned his Doctorates Degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in 1959. In 1960, Giles began work as an Economist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where the family also built their first home. Along the way his two sons, Howard Jr. and Tim were born in 1957 and 1960.
With a desire to return to his Kentucky roots and to be closer to his beloved Christian County he took a job at Murray State University. Dr. Giles served as a professor in MSU's College of Business and Public Affairs for 25 years, where he served as Chairman of the Economics Department for 11 of those years.
Giles areas of teaching and research included micro economics, public policy, effects of government policy on foreign and local governments, political economy, economic forecasting and economic education in Kentucky high schools. He has received numerous awards such as Distinguished Professor, Ford Foundation Fellowship to participate in economic discussion in Latin America and a sabbatical leave to work in the Office of U.S Senator Wendell Ford. Numerous articles written by Dr. Giles based on his research have been published.
Since retirement, Dr. Giles has served on the Murray Hospital Board and was a founding member of the ROMEO club (Retired Old Men Eating Out) of Murray Kentucky.
Howard was a lifelong and active member of the First Baptist Church of Murray where he served on various committees. He was also a member of the CWR "Class without Rules" Sunday School Class at the church.
He was married to Geneva Giles, on Sept 11, 1954 and she proceeds him in his death. He is also proceeded in death by his son Howard Giles and sister, Jane Giles.
Survivors include his son, Tim Giles, his wife Kaye and his grandchildren Jamie Giles Rodgers and her husband Fred, Andrew Giles and his wife Hannah, Casey Giles and Jesse Giles.
The funeral will be Friday, October 21st at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of J.H. Churchill Funeral Home. The Rev. Keith Inman will officiate.
Active pallbearers will be Hulon Giles, Carden Giles, Wayne Powell, Matt Smiley, Nick Meriwether and Daniel Pitts.
Burial will follow in the Murray City Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 20th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Dr. Howard C. Giles Economics Scholarship Fund, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071. Checks payable to the Murray State University Foundation.