Miles Horst

From 1933 to 1936, Horst was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was chairman of the legislative committee to investigate public relief during his second term. He did not run for reelection in 1936.^[1] After leaving office, Horst was secretary of the Pennsylvania State Grange and editor of the Pennsylvania Farmer. In 1943, he was appointed secretary of agriculture by Governor Edward Martin.^[5] He was retained by Governors John C. Bell Jr. and James H. Duff.^[6]

On June 19, 1954, Horst was unanimously elected chairman of the Republican state committee after receiving the support of Lieutenant Governor and 1954 gubernatorial nominee Lloyd H. Wood.^[6] Wood was upset by George M. Leader, becoming the first Republican to lose a Pennsylvania gubernatorial election since 1954.^[7] In 1956, Horst, a member of the James H. Duff-faction of the party, was opposed for reelection by George I. Bloom, a supporter of Joseph R. Grundy. Horst chose not to run for another term and instead endorsed Henry W. Lark.^[8] Lark withdrew shortly before the election and Bloom was elected unopposed.^[9]

On May 24, 1956, Horst was appointed staff assistant to United States Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson.^[10] In 1962, Horst was chosen to coordinate the primary campaigns of the party-backed gubernatorial and United States Senate candidates William Scranton and James E. Van Zandt. It was believed that Horst would be able to counteract the rural support of Scranton's opponent, J. Collins McSparran, who was master of the Pennsylvania state grange.^[11] Scranton was able to defeat McSparran and win the general election. After taking office, he appointed Horst to the newly-created position of special advisor on agribusiness.^[12]

On April 5, 1968, Horst died suddenly while visiting relatives in Hagerstown, Maryland. He had been hospitalized three years prior and had not been in great health since.^[13]