Local resident celebrates return from 30-day coma

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ESCANABA - Photographer and businessman are only two ways to describe Dick "Lee" Wiles, Escanaba.

Wiles, founder of Lee's Studio, was released from Christian Park Village Tuesday, where he had been a resident for the past four months.

Wiles collapsed in his yard in July, afterwards lapsing into a coma which lasted for approximately 30 days. For the past four months, Wiles had been under the care of the nurses and aides of Christian Park Village.

He was released from Christian Park Village Tuesday, with the staff members hosting an open house to celebrate not only his recovery but also his release.

According to Wiles, when he emerged from his coma after one month, an orderly who was attending to him nearly fell over in a faint.

"Everyone thought I would never make it. The orderly who came in thought I was dead, that's when I sat up," he recounted with a chuckle.

To celebrate his release from Christian Park Village, the open house featured photographs taken by Wiles including two photographs of the White House which were signed by former President Jimmy Carter. He has taken photos of former President Gerald Ford, which were also on display Tuesday as part of the open house.

Prior to going into business for himself, Wiles served in the U.S. Air Force as an aerial photographer until 1955.

During this time, Wiles flew reconnaissance missions in B-36 and the Strategic Air Command's flying fortresses - the B-52 bomber.

During his last year in military service, Wiles found himself grounded, and placed in military public relations service, taking photographs of movie stars and other famous visitors.