Former county commissioner Glen Miller dies
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A former Washington County Commissioner and county businessman's death was mourned Monday by past politicians and the business community of the county.
"I got a phone call early this morning that he'd passed and have been in calls with several of the directors of the chamber since, letting them know," said Rick Walters, also a former commissioner and a present director for the Muskingum Valley Beverly Waterford Chamber of Commerce. "Glen was a charter member of our chamber and a driving force in this county."
The chamber's social media announced Monday that Glen Miller, 85, of Beverly, had passed sharing a photo of Miller from the chamber's 2019 annual awards dinner with longtime friend Jack Haessly, of Newport Township.
"Glen was a special friend of mine for a long, long time" shared Haessly with the Times. "The Millers were farmers and I think that set some good habits for him that made him successful, not only in business, he built a TV cable company in the Beverly-Waterford area, but also in public life."
Haessly shared that Miller had served two terms as Washington County Commissioner, references to which both Walters and Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks also concurred.
"He was instrumental in the sales tax levy passing for the sheriff's office," said Mincks. "He was a very hard worker and a sound businessman … a daylight-to-dark type of guy."
Walters also succeeded Miller as chairman of the chamber's board of directors, before the merger with the Beverly-Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce in 2017.
Miller, according to past Times' records, served as chairman of the Muskingum Valley Chamber of Commerce for 10 years, stepping down at 77 after, as friends describe, righting the ship.
"You know, at the time he took over at the Muskingum chamber, the chamber was bankrupt after the Harry Hauser incidents where (Hauser) went to prison for embezzlement," recalled Walters.
Hauser, according to state court documents, was charged in October of 2001 with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and entered a guilty plea by the close of that year.
"He turned that all around, took that upon himself to recruit members and fundraise," described Walters. "He showed that you can't be afraid to ask for money, he even got us set up at the Marietta Community Foundation."
Miller, in 2013, was presented with the chamber's Founders Award within the walls of the St. Bernard's Catholic Church social hall and was described during that banquet as "this stately-looking gentleman (who) walked in and asked if he could donate to the chamber.
"I'm very blessed, and we have had some great directors who've helped me along the way," Miller said after that award presentation. "We started from $2,500 in debt 11 years ago, and today we're giving out between $10,000 and $12,000 every year to non-profits in this community."
Fellow chamber director Jean Yost also shared fond memories of Miller.
"He came from a family of servers, both his mom and dad were part of the Barlow fire department for years and he was one of those people that had long-term thoughts and drive for our county, he wanted investment in the county and our community," said Yost. "He grew up between Barlow and Waterford, but had friends all over the western part of the county."
Funeral services were not public by press time Monday.