ST. GEORGE — Broadcaster, realtor and St. George resident for over 50 years, L. Brent Miner, who was part of the family that owned KDXU-AM from 1968 to 1986 and went on to become a successful realtor and start a low power FM station that played his favorite jazz music, died Tuesday at his home in Bloomington. He was 69 years old.
His son, Jackson Miner, said that Miner died from COVID-19-caused pneumonia. He was surrounded by his family.
Brent Miner was one of two sons of the late L. John Miner, who built many radio stations in the West, including Santa Cruz and Monterey in California. Miner was born in 1952 to John Miner and his wife, the late Julie Pace Miner.
The Miner family moved to St. George in 1967 and eventually bought KDXU-AM. Brent was an announcer for the radio station while still in high school, playing the current records of the day to his friends at Dixie High School and reading the news from the school.
He became the general manager of the station after graduation from Dixie High in 1970 and married Debbie Lancaster in 1974.
Miner saw several changes throughout his career, including the first FM station in St. George, the first TV station in the city and the construction of the three new towers currently in the Washington Fields area in September 1985, with a switch from the old frequency of 1450 to 890 AM and an upgrade in power from 1,000 watts to 10,000 watts.
The Miner family sold KDXU and KZEZ-FM in 1986 to Simmons Broadcasting.
Miner went on to a successful career in real estate in the 2000s and became one of the top realtors in Washington County. But his son Jackson said that Miner never lost his sense of community or friendships.
“My dad meant the world to me,” Jackson Miner told St. George News. “My dad loved St. George and had immense pride for this little town. He just cared and loved so much. He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. Really, he is the best person I’ve ever known and I just can’t believe how lucky I have been to call him my dad and best friend for the last 28 years.”
Recently, Brent Miner was a board member of Soft Cell Labs, a testing laboratory in St. George providing COVID-19 tests to residents. He also was a partner in a smooth jazz station in St. George, KWBR-LP 105.7 FM.
Tributes to Miner have poured in on his Facebook page. Radio personality Barbara Champion said, “Such a wonderful man and a wonderful friend. What a great impact he has had on all of us who knew and loved him.” Thomas Hartman said, “Brent was one of the good guys. The world will not be as good of (a) place without him.” Teesha Byrnes said, “Truly the nicest guy I know. This is heartbreaking. When I think of Brent I think of his smile and endless generosity.”
Miner is survived by his wife, Debbie, five children and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John.
Funeral services will be held Monday at the Bloomington Stake Center, 200 West Brigham Road at 11 a.m. Viewings will be held Sunday from 5-7 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Boulevard and Monday prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will follow at the Tonaquint Cemetery.
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