Beverly Miller

She received several awards during her teaching career, including Teacher of the Year from the National Honor Society at Lebanon High School. The plaque she received read, “for always providing the finest example of leadership, scholarship, character and service.”

“I always impressed upon my students that they should find something in their lives in which they have a passion, and then pursue that with all their heart, soul and mind,” Miller said.

Miller left the classroom in 2000, and she began volunteering with the American Red Cross in 2001.

“I finished the requirements to go on national disaster assignments just days before Sept. 11,” Miller said, noting that she was in New York City by Sept. 15. “My work with the victims of the terrorist attacks demonstrated to me the importance of having Red Cross volunteers on a local level.”

Upon her return to Lebanon, Miller was asked to serve as Laclede County’s Disaster Action Team coordinator, and at that time, there were only four active disaster volunteers in the county. She got to work recruiting volunteers.

“We now have 103 volunteers in Laclede County who have been trained in disaster relief,” Miller said. “We meet monthly and are involved in a multitude of events to support our mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters.”

She also has formed an advisory committee of 30 community leaders who help with community awareness and fund raising for the American Red Cross.

Miller has served on 17 national disaster assignments, often in supervisory roles, including management of a Red Cross shelter during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

She is most proud of the leadership she has given to the diverse group of volunteers who work through the American Red Cross.

“As we have worked together to help other people in need, we have created an emotional bond,” Miller said. “I know I am blessed, and feel they also have been blessed, by the opportunity to become part of a group of people who really show the humanity of mankind.

“That I have been a part of the reason for the development of this group gives me a great sense of accomplishment.”

Miller is a member of the Lebanon Rotary Club, and received Rotary’s Service Above Self award in 2005.

Personally speaking

Tell us about your family.

I am married to Jack Miller, an attorney in Lebanon. We were high school sweethearts and have now been married 37 years. We have two children. Lindsay graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and George Washington Law School in Washington, D.C. She graduated with honors from both schools and is now an attorney in Washington, D.C. Our son, Eric, graduated from the University of Chicago and is presently living in Seward, Alaska. He is working on a glacier and whale-watching tour boat, and working toward obtaining his boat captain’s license.

Tell us something about you that most people probably don’t know.

I love to play Texas Hold-em. I am not very good, and I am presently reading two books on the subject, but have realized the books don’t take the place of a good poker face, which I apparently don’t have.

Beyond the Golden Rule, what philosophy do you live by?

A quote from Martin Luther King Jr. articulates my thoughts on how each of us should lead our lives: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”