Lawrence Preston Miles, Jr, known to many as Lon, Lonnie, or Joe Star, was born September 16, 1943 to Lawrence Preston Miles and Virginia Etta Cecil Miles in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia, graduated from Highland Springs High School, Class of 1962, and served in the Air Force Reserve. He attended the Brooks Institute of Photography and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and earned a B.A. in Art from California State University, Los Angeles. Later in life, he earned his ESL teaching certification. Lawrence had an evolving career that began in insurance in Richmond and eventually took him to Miami, Houston, and Hollywood. In 1971, he moved to Texas and met his future wife, Patricia Connolly, on his first day in town. Lon and Patricia were married in 1973, and in 1980, they opened the iconic Joe Star’s Omni at 1540 Westheimer and drove the local music scene by showcasing punk rock bands including The Zealots, The Butthole Surfers, Ric Tangle & The Squares, the Mydolls, Legal Weapon, The Dicks, and Bad Brains. He produced industrial and broadcast video for the Miles & Connolly TV Production Studios in Houston. He went on to Hollywood to produce documentaries and political commercials, photograph and manage many artists and actors with Star Group Services, and eventually returned to Houston producing for Access TV and filming for a variety of festivals, events, and musical acts. When he retired from the entertainment industry, he travelled to Vietnam and Guadalajara, Mexico and developed a passion for teaching. He returned to Houston once again to teach ESL. In 2016, at the age of 73, he told an old friend, “Family and the search for the future is at the heart of my existence” and spent the last years of his life enjoying time with his daughters and their families. In 2017, he said “Now the days go slowly for me and yet time is moving so fast. That’s the paradox. As the clock winds down slowly and an eternity hopefully in heaven awaits for me – with God’s grace, I still am quietly searching for my next project”. On May 18, 2018, Lon suffered a massive stroke. He displayed the fighting spirit and loving heart he was known for by enduring months of hospital visits, rehab, and therapy, and spending more quality time with his family. Lon passed away peacefully at Houston Hospice, on January 2, 2019, at 10:13 PM. Lon is survived by his wife, Patricia Carole Connolly Miles, daughters, Dr. Melissa Miles McCarter and Melinda Carole Miles Guillory, his siblings, Erlyne Mangum, Jackie Tucker, and Emmerson Miles, his son in laws, Dr. William Matthew McCarter and Christopher Michael Guillory, and most importantly his beloved grandchildren. Lon found the true meaning of love through his bond to all of them, and his unique sense of humor, artistic talents, and creativity can be seen in each one, including Michael Lawrence, Christopher Patrick, Willa Kate, Daniel Ross, and Britin Jay Andrew. He joins his granddaughter Madeleine Miles McCarter “on the wings of a dove” as he has anticipated since her passing in 2003. The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Memorial City Memorial Hermann Hospital, TIRR Memorial Hermann, and Houston Hospice for their care and compassion. Condolences can be sent to 2322 Bron Holly Drive, Houston, TX 77018.