Douglas F. Miller
Douglas F. Miller was born in Ravenna, Kentucky on Christmas Eve, 1906. He always said this is the year his siblings stopped believing in Santa Claus. Mr. Miller was the fifth child of six born to Harry and Jennie Dunaway Miller. He spent all of his childhood years in Estill County and was raised on Campbell’s Branch. Mr. Miller received his secondary education at Estill High School and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education at what is now known as Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. He also received his Master’s Degree from EKU and later his Rank One from the University of Kentucky.
Mr. Miller married his childhood sweetheart Hallie Underwood in 1930. They were the parents of four sons, Randall, Clarence, Victor and Robert. After the boys were all enrolled in school, Hallie worked full time at Carhartt, but together she and Douglas made time for their boys, as family was very important to Mr. Miller.
In 1927, he began his long and colorful career in education in Estill County. He began teaching in a one room schoolhouse at Chestnut Stand. He often traveled by horseback or even on foot from his home in Campbell’s Branch. Several years later, he became the Truant Officer for the Estill County Schools and served for 11 years. Education was very important to Douglas and he was not ashamed to talk about its importance to the young people of this community. He was known to say many times, that no matter how good you were in sports, education was what would make you a success. In 1950 he became Superintendent . While Superintendent, he also served as the first baseball coach at Estill High, coaching that team for 8 years. His tenure as Superintendent lasted until his retirement on July 1, 1968. During his administration many changes came to education in Estill County. During his tenure, the 44 one and two room schools were consolidated into five elementary schools. This opened many teaching positions and created a much better learning environment. He knew the young people of Estill County deserved the best educational experience he could offer. Education was very dear to Mr. Miller’s heart and he was a true teacher, whether he was actually teaching children in class or teaching valuable life lessons to one of his seven grandchildren, he was teaching. Mr. Miller’s son Victor followed in his father’s footsteps as a dedicated educator and several of his grandchildren and great grandchildren are very involved in the educational field today, as well.
In 1945, Douglas began another chapter in his life and in the life of his family when he was ordained as a Baptist Minister. This would ultimately become his passion. He was the Pastor at many small churches around Estill County, including Cow Creek Baptist, where he served for 15 years until his retirement 1989. He preached many times for free or for just his expenses. He preached many revivals and was fairly popular with the young folks because of his short sermons. He used to say that if you had to use more that 15-20 minutes to say what needed to be said then you were wasting your time. His relationship with his God was very important to him and was evident in his dealings with people. Mr. Miller shared many life lessons from the pulpit and taught from the Scriptures about how God intended for His people to live. He witnessed many life-changing decisions of people from all walks of life during his ministry. Some of those decisions were honored in the living room of the Miller home in Ravenna when he would perform marriage ceremonies at any hour of the day and night or at the many church weddings he led. He was privileged to officiate at the marriage of his son Victor to Janice West in the 1950’s and his oldest grandson Randy to his bride Debbie. Another highlight of his ministry was baptizing his youngest grandchild Jonathan at First Baptist Church in Irvine. Seeing his grandchildren involved in church gave him pleasure.
Mr. Miller was nominated two times by the Republican Party to run for Secretary of State for Kentucky. Although he failed to win the election both times, he had a strong love for politics and the Republican Party. Many honors and awards were given to Mr. Miller during his lifetime, many of them for his service in education and as a civic leader. He worked tirelessly with the Crippled Children’s Organization for 15 years and had a special place in his heart for children with disabilities. He was also awarded the Community leader of America Award in 1968 and the prestigious Integrity Award form EKU.
Mr. Miller was able to fulfill a lifelong dream in the late 1980’s when he published his book Rain in Lyle Hollow. This story portrayed a family in a rural town in the mountains of Kentucky, he felt compelled to put into words the struggles of families in the Depression Era and how they were forced to work or starve. He was in the process of writing a second book when he passed away.
Mr. Miller’s wife Hallie still resides in their home in Ravenna. She commented that his true love was preaching and seeing people turn to the Lord. She also stated that he was a hard working man who took pride in spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed the banjo and collecting knives, plates, old bottles, Bluegrass music recordings and almost anything that could be bought by “mail order”. Mr. Miller passed away on March 1, 1990 surrounded by his family. His influence, however, and sadness in his passing, was felt throughout Estill County by the many touched by this caring man.
Mr. Miller married his childhood sweetheart Hallie Underwood in 1930. They were the parents of four sons, Randall, Clarence, Victor and Robert. After the boys were all enrolled in school, Hallie worked full time at Carhartt, but together she and Douglas made time for their boys, as family was very important to Mr. Miller.
In 1927, he began his long and colorful career in education in Estill County. He began teaching in a one room schoolhouse at Chestnut Stand. He often traveled by horseback or even on foot from his home in Campbell’s Branch. Several years later, he became the Truant Officer for the Estill County Schools and served for 11 years. Education was very important to Douglas and he was not ashamed to talk about its importance to the young people of this community. He was known to say many times, that no matter how good you were in sports, education was what would make you a success. In 1950 he became Superintendent . While Superintendent, he also served as the first baseball coach at Estill High, coaching that team for 8 years. His tenure as Superintendent lasted until his retirement on July 1, 1968. During his administration many changes came to education in Estill County. During his tenure, the 44 one and two room schools were consolidated into five elementary schools. This opened many teaching positions and created a much better learning environment. He knew the young people of Estill County deserved the best educational experience he could offer. Education was very dear to Mr. Miller’s heart and he was a true teacher, whether he was actually teaching children in class or teaching valuable life lessons to one of his seven grandchildren, he was teaching. Mr. Miller’s son Victor followed in his father’s footsteps as a dedicated educator and several of his grandchildren and great grandchildren are very involved in the educational field today, as well.
In 1945, Douglas began another chapter in his life and in the life of his family when he was ordained as a Baptist Minister. This would ultimately become his passion. He was the Pastor at many small churches around Estill County, including Cow Creek Baptist, where he served for 15 years until his retirement 1989. He preached many times for free or for just his expenses. He preached many revivals and was fairly popular with the young folks because of his short sermons. He used to say that if you had to use more that 15-20 minutes to say what needed to be said then you were wasting your time. His relationship with his God was very important to him and was evident in his dealings with people. Mr. Miller shared many life lessons from the pulpit and taught from the Scriptures about how God intended for His people to live. He witnessed many life-changing decisions of people from all walks of life during his ministry. Some of those decisions were honored in the living room of the Miller home in Ravenna when he would perform marriage ceremonies at any hour of the day and night or at the many church weddings he led. He was privileged to officiate at the marriage of his son Victor to Janice West in the 1950’s and his oldest grandson Randy to his bride Debbie. Another highlight of his ministry was baptizing his youngest grandchild Jonathan at First Baptist Church in Irvine. Seeing his grandchildren involved in church gave him pleasure.
Mr. Miller was nominated two times by the Republican Party to run for Secretary of State for Kentucky. Although he failed to win the election both times, he had a strong love for politics and the Republican Party. Many honors and awards were given to Mr. Miller during his lifetime, many of them for his service in education and as a civic leader. He worked tirelessly with the Crippled Children’s Organization for 15 years and had a special place in his heart for children with disabilities. He was also awarded the Community leader of America Award in 1968 and the prestigious Integrity Award form EKU.
Mr. Miller was able to fulfill a lifelong dream in the late 1980’s when he published his book Rain in Lyle Hollow. This story portrayed a family in a rural town in the mountains of Kentucky, he felt compelled to put into words the struggles of families in the Depression Era and how they were forced to work or starve. He was in the process of writing a second book when he passed away.
Mr. Miller’s wife Hallie still resides in their home in Ravenna. She commented that his true love was preaching and seeing people turn to the Lord. She also stated that he was a hard working man who took pride in spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed the banjo and collecting knives, plates, old bottles, Bluegrass music recordings and almost anything that could be bought by “mail order”. Mr. Miller passed away on March 1, 1990 surrounded by his family. His influence, however, and sadness in his passing, was felt throughout Estill County by the many touched by this caring man.