By Austin Williams
Centralia High School alumni Dale Miller and James Sumner received a warm welcome from students and faculty at the school’s Distinguished Alumni assembly on Friday afternoon. The two were honored for their successful careers and accomplishments in their respective industries.
First to speak and receive his award was Dale Miller, who has had a long career in the radio industry. He has created or worked with fifty-five radio stations throughout his career and been CEO or managing partner of nine radio corporations in West Virginia. He spent thirty-six seasons as producer, director, and writer for West Virginia Mountaineer Sports Network. Miller has received awards including induction in the West Virginia Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame. Miller described his path through life as a consistent one. Starting as a part-time employee of a radio station in high school, he went on to spend decades in the radio industry and manage dozens of stations. According to Miller, he found success by finding what he enjoyed early on and staying with it.
“Everything I did in my career, I was already doing in high school,” Miller said. “I was in radio, I was in the media. I liked music, I liked sports. I’ve been doing high school sports, intercollegiate sports, and programming music radio stations for the last fifty years, so I never really grew up—What I wanted to do when I was young, I did my entire life.”
The second distinguished alumnus, James Sumner, said his career path was a contrast to Miller’s. Sumner has been President of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council since 1990. He graduated from Kaskaskia College in 1968 and SIU Carbondale with a degree in journalism in 1970. He became farm editor of the Daily Lancaster Journal from 1971 to 1976, went on to become director of marketing for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and later President of the International Poultry Council, a position he has held since 2016. Sumner told students that his success came from being receptive to opportunities and keeping an open mind. He recalled one time in his career to demonstrate that point:
“Here I am, thirty years old, and I’m the director of marketing for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture when ten years ago I didn’t know anything about agriculture… You never know what’s going to come next,” Sumner said. “I think a lot of you sitting here today think that you know what you want to do, but my message is: keep your avenues open.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, students had the opportunity to ask questions for Miller and Sumner. One student asked them both what accomplishments they were most proud of. Sumner said that his involvement in charitable programs to feed the hungry was rewarding and that he enjoyed the chance to provide aid for the underprivileged. Miller cited his involvement with American Legion Baseball, saying that the program provided opportunities for young athletes with plans to go on to college. Both alumni stated the importance of giving back and contributing to the well-being of others.
