Gary Miller
Class of 1974Alumni Recognition Award, 2002
Gary Miller is the second member of his graduating class of 1974 to be recognized by the Naperville Central High school Alumni Committee. He comes back to the school not singing tunes but with knowledge and experience from many years of being a well-known news and sportscaster.
Gary received his B.A. degree from Southern Illinois University in 1978 and landed a sports director job right out of school with the television station WSAV, NBC affiliate from Savanna, Georgia. From this experience in 1982 he moved on to anchor a weekly baseball highlights show and college football and basketball preview program. This opened doors to host ESPN and the 30-minute show "Up Close". Gary is quoted that he is grateful for the opportunity to be part of that show. He continues today hosting various programs and enjoys being part of the sports scene.
Mr. Miller has received much recognition. He received the 1980 Southern League Sportscaster of the Year Award. He was the regular host of multiple Emmy winning sport center broadcasts in the 1990’s. He was the host for CNN coverage of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, an eighteen hour long program.
Gary’s memories and involvement at Naperville Central were in chorus, madrigals, musicals and theater. He was a member of the two-time intramural basketball champs. His best memory was playing Mayor Slain in the spring musical "The Music Man", as a junior. He played a lead in "Bus Stop", as a sophomore, and in the play "The Glass Menagerie when he had the lead as a senior. He was a member of the district competion team, which did a part of the play "Terminal".
Mr. Miller is married to Lisa Marie, a native of California. They have one beautiful daughter, Calle Rose who was born on December 11, 2001. His mother, Doris and father, Norm, left Naperville in 1992 to reside in Florida. His sister, Nancy (class of 1966) lives in Cincinnati and brother, Larry (class of 1969) lives in Tampa. He is uncle to many nieces and nephews. He is a member of the New Community Church in Irvine, CA. He Also is part of other southern churches and is a contributor to the Rex Hurdler’s fund, Team Up for Down Syndrome Foundation.
MR. MILLER’S MESSAGE FOR NCHS STUDENTS: Higher learning isn’t college or what you do on weekends. It’s time spent being with your Creator, where we are all in the gifted class.
