56 Nebraskaland • October 2025
PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST
Pheasant hunting at North Bend, 1970s
My brother, Pat, and his dogs
Bridget and Buzz.
– Tom Elliott, Ralston
Fishing at Lake McConaughy, 1978
Last camp of our honeymoon trip which
started at Lewis and Clark Lake to the Black
Hills then Big Mac. We rented a boat from
the marina and fished in Martin's Bay. Still
fishing with my biggest catch — wife Cathy.
– Steve Partusch, Burr
Pheasant hunting near Fremont (1969) and Fullerton (1982)
Little did I know that hunting pheasants back in 1968, while
attending Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, would lead to
a lifetime of hunting. My good friend Stephen Uehling got my
nephew, John Miles, and me (top photo, pictured left to right) into
hunting pheasants when the number of birds was high. This was
photographed in 1969, the Sunday of opening morning and taken in
Stephen's dorm room before we attended church. We had a quick hunt
and still bagged five birds.
As the years passed, we hunted every opening day until they
both passed away. I lost two great hunting buddies. Because of this
introduction to hunting, I became actively involved in the Hunter
Education Program back in 1974. I started teaching classes back in
1994. I hung up teaching classes in August 2024. All of this led to the
Miles Family Annual Pheasant Hunt that lasted for 28 years.
Bottom picture was taken north and west of Fullerton in 1982,
showing hunters (pictured left to right) John Miles Sr. (deceased),
myself Steve Miles, John Miles (deceased), Mark Miles and Mitch
Miles. The tradition lives on with my son, Mitch, and me.
– Steven Miles, Grand Island
