Jack Miller – Harold Oswald Special Contributor Award

Jack Miller’s name has been synonymous for many decades with the oil and gas business, athletics and philanthropy in Wayne County.

The past CEO of Miller Supply, Kenoil and Kastle Oil & Gas, Miller has had a passion for athletics all his life.

A 1970 graduate of Triway High School, Miller excelled in football and held the school record for interceptions for 31 years.

Miller went on to play slowpitch softball for 16 years for the world-ranked Miller Pipers.

Jack and his wife, Deb, have three children, Kirk, Brooks and Jordan and 11 grandchildren.

“We’ve had 10 All-Ohio athletes in our family with the Millers, Starrs and Rottmans,” Jack proudly stated.

Miller has always looked for ways to help his family, relatives, the Triway community and beyond, especially when it comes to athletics. His lifetime involvement with sports as an athlete, coach, administrator and donor makes him very deserving of the WCSHOF/Harold Oswald Special Contributor Award.

“I’m honored to join such a select group of Wayne county athletes,” Miller said.

Miller was a youth baseball and football coach for many years, as well as serving as a baseball league commissioner.

The most notable projects that Jack and Deb have led and developed are Triway’s Jack Miller Field, Ashland University’s 6,000-seat Jack Miller Stadium, Triway Youth Baseball’s Miller Fields, the Triway Auxiliary Gym and the new indoor Niss Athletic Center at Ashland University.

“Deb and I like to see long-term needs for athletic facilities that can help groups of people for generations,” Jack said. “Nothing is more exhilarating than watching people enjoy a gym or ball field while remembering the many obstacles that had to be worked through.”

In recent years, Miller has developed a close friendship with Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan and become a member of the Buckeyes’ executive wrestling board.

Miller said his hobby is, “playing pickleball with friends and legends Seth Bowles and Corey Beckett.”

Jack and Deb are members of Grace Church and Friends and Followers Class in Wooster.