Miller honored by PHS |
Richard Miller has been honored as the 2006 Pittsburg High School Distinguished Alumnus. Dawn McNay, USD 250 Board of Education president, presented the award to Miller May 21 in conjunction with PHS commencement exercises. A 1966 PHS graduate, he was second academically in a class of around 200 students. Today he is chief executive officer of Miller's Professional Imaging, the largest professional photo lab in the United States, with locations in Pittsburg and Columbia, Mo., and clients in all 50 states. When told that he had been selected for the award, Miller said that he was totally overwhelmed. "It's an honor for your high school to recognize you, but I'm not real comfortable with these things," he said later. "I did this on behalf of all PHS graduates who have been the mainstay of our businesses. Many of the main positions in our business are held by PHS graduates." Whether he's comfortable with receiving awards or not, Miller has also received numerous other honors, including being named Photofinisher of the Year and serving as president in 1995 of the Association of Professional Color Imagers. An accomplished photographer, he has twice been named Kansas Photographer of the Year and earned a master of photography from the Professional Photographers of America. Miller earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Missouri in 1970, and has also received many honors from the university. In 1996 he received the university's College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2000 he was granted a Doctor of Humane Letters Honorary Degree, and in 2004 was honored with the University of Missouri Distinguished Alumni Award. In presenting the award, McNay praised Miller as a "strong voice for education." In fact, he frequently uses that voice to speak to students - and his theme is usually the importance of getting a solid background in mathematics. "We use math every day, whether we realize it or not," Miller said. "We all have to balance our checkbooks and pay taxes. I'm a hobby musician, and occasionally play professionally. Do you know what music is? Music is really math. The world is based on math." His community activities include serving as president of the Pittsburg State University Foundation Board of Trustees and as co-chairman of the PSU Capital Campaign Committee and co-chairman of the Stadium Expansion Project. He served on the board of directors of the J.L. Hutchinson Baseball League and as league treasurer, and was presented the J.L. Hutchinson Baseball League Lifetime Service Award. He has also held leadership positions in the Pittsburg United Way, served as greens chairman at Crestwood Country Club and served on the USD 250 Technology Committee. "Richard's philanthropic gifts have benefited the Pittsburg community many times over, and will touch many young people for years to come," McNay said. "Most admirable is the example he sets in demonstrating the true essence of 'gift'. He very willingly shares his resources, never seeking the limelight, never asking for anything in return, no strings attached. He simply gives. For that reason we may never be fully aware of the magnitude of his kindness." Miller's portrait and a duplicate of the plaque presented to him will hand in display on the "Distinguished Alumnus Wall" at PHS. The PHS Distinguished Alumnus Award was started in 1998, and the first recipient was Jack Overman. Other recipients have included Donald Cooper, Gary Zukav, Ron Marrone, Dr. Robert Golub, Dick and Kaye Lynne Webb, Don Gutteridge and Bob Timmons, and Dr. Philip Cede-o. The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) June 1, 2006 |
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