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Pioneer Texas Aviator - Instructor- Plane Builder

      Lestere Miller was born at Commerce, Texas November 25, 1891. Information is lacking concerning his early life and education.

      Reportedly he became a professional chauffeur and de-veloped an interest in aviation in 1910. Later that year he had a short plane ride with Tom Benoist at Kinloch Park, St. Louis, Missouri, following which he was determined to learn to fly. At that time he was a chauffeur for Dr. Hampton of Rush Springs, Oklahoma.
     
      During the spring of 1911 a Mr. Blackburn built a monoplane at nearby Chickasha, Oklahoma and Miller was engaged to try to fly it. About June 1st he started taxying and grass cutting practice in a field outside of Chickasha and made him first good flight in the Blackburn machine on June 24th. Other flights followed and soon Miller was making good progress. As a result he flew an exhibition at temple, Oklahoma on July 3d and then at Hillsboro, Texas on July 4th. 

      It is not known to what extent Miller continued to be associated with Blackburn, but in 1912 he started to do some flying for S. A. Pine who had built a biplane in Dallas, Texas. On November 14th he flew over the city of 
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