Keith Miller
Year Inducted: 2024
Keith Monte Miller was born April 3,1950 in Wilkes County to the Rev. Ralph Miller and Ruby Osborne Miller. Keith was one of seven children growing up in the Cricket Community before the family relocated to the Oakwoods Community in 1958. He attended Union and Wilkesboro Elementary and graduated from Wilkes Central High School in 1968. Keith graduated from Wilkes Community College with an Associate of Arts in 1970 and Appalachian State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in Political Science.
As a youth, Keith was active in his community 4-H Club taking to heart their motto, "Striving for loyalty and lending a hand in service". He was very active in the mid 1970's serving as Secretary and Vice-President of the Wilkes Jaycees while chairing several fundraisers for local causes.
Keith's interest in sports was apparent as a young boy and prompted his 8th grade teacher to state at his graduation that he was "Not too big, not too small but all his energy is rolled into a ball". This led Keith to volunteer coaching Little League baseball for 15 years winning five championships and appearing in three Wilkes County World Series. He also served as an assistant football coach for the Millers Creek Rotary Club 7th and 8th grade team from 1975-1978 winning two league championships and Bowl games while going undefeated in two of the four seasons. Keith's coaching background also included coaching YMCA boy’s midget basketball from 1978 through 1984 and girl’s basketball from 1994 through 1996. They were undefeated in the 1995 Mini-Mite season. He coached Slow Pitch softball 1995-1997 with a 51-3 record and three consecutive league championships. In 1998 He was instrumental in organizing the very first Fast Pitch program within the North Wilkesboro Recreation Department and coached the All Star team to a 2nd place finish in the state. His last coaching experience was an assistant volunteer coach for the inaugural Wilkes Central Fast Pitch team in 2000 and 2001.
Another volunteer activity is his interest in supporting his High School Alma Mater's Athletic Boosters serving as the club Secretary, Vice President and President along with organizing and committing many hours the last 25 years and continues to be active today as the liaison between the School and financial supporters along with organizing football reunions and recognitions for past conference champions.
Keith is probably known more than any other activity at Wilkes Central for being the "Voice of the Eagles" serving as the game announcer for nearly 1000 football, basketball and baseball games since 1999.
Keith also served on the Board of Directors of the Wilkes County Hall of Fame for six years, the last two as Sponsorship Chairman.
Last but not least, he is a man of faith, being a member of Oakwoods Baptist Church since 1959, serving as a Deacon since 1988 (three terms as chairman) teaching an adult Sunday class for 45 years, a member of the adult choir for over 30 years and serving on various committees and delivering shut-in meals each month within the community.
Keith was employed by Gardner Glass Products for over 41 years in Customer Service and Inside Sales. He is currently employed with Steve C. Davis FedEx Ground Trucking as a Recruitment Specialist.
Keith is married to the former Sabina Pavoni. They have three children- Lucas Miller, Carrie Miller and Emily Miller Faulkner (Scott) and one granddaughter, Reagan Grace Faulkner.
Keith has positively influenced and been an inspiration to hundreds of young men, women and adults throughout his life of loyalty and service to Wilkes County.
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