OA Program Specialist Carey Miller Retires
 Order of the Arrow Program Specialist Carey Miller, who championed the
Order's involvement in Scoutreach Mentoring, high adventure, and Cub Scouting,
retired on May 1, 2012.
Miller, a Vigil Honor member and Distinguished Service Award recipient,
served as Order of the Arrow associate director and program specialist for the
last 14 of his 36 years as a professional Scouter. He stepped down to spend more
time with his family and to pursue personal endeavors.
"After 36 years, it's time," Miller said. "It's been a good run - a
mountaintop experience – however, I have other things that I still want to do."
Miller is a native of Eastover, S.C. and holds a bachelor's degree in
business administration from Benedict College, Columbia, S.C. Through the Boy
Scouts of America's approved graduate program, Miller earned a master's degree
in human services and leadership from Murray State University, Murray, Ky.
While teaching in the Philadelphia, Pa. school system, Miller was recruited
into professional Scouting by the Cradle of Liberty Council. In 1971, Miller
then began his professional Scouting career as an assistant district executive
in Roanoke, Va. He left the profession in 1973 to work in advertising sales with
Bellsouth but returned in 1977 as a senior district executive in St. Thomas and
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he served until 1980. He was also a second
lieutenant with the U.S. Virgin Islands Army National Guard. From 1981 to 1997,
Miller served as senior district executive and field director in Columbia, S.C.
and as senior district executive, field director, and urban rural director in
St. Louis, Mo. Miller joined the national staff in Jan. 1998.
"Miller guided the Order to further align our programs with the Boy Scouts of
America's vision," said Ray Capp, national Order of the Arrow committee
chairman.
"He was always encouraging, not only for us to 'hold it in the road' but to
take it to the 'end of the road,'" Capp said, quoting Miller's well-known
metaphors.
"I'm particularly appreciative of Carey's leadership, as evidenced by his
service as Merit Badge Midway Director for the 2005 and 2010 National Scout
Jamborees and his advising of the Indian Summer program last summer, which were
both tremendous successes," Capp said. "He quietly and methodically used a very
supportive strategy of helping other people be and look good."
Ed Pease and Brad Haddock, who also worked with Miller during their terms as
national committee chairman, offered additional praise for his service.
Citing Miller's spearheading work for the Order of the Arrow High Adventure
programs, Pease said, "I doubt that very many of the literally thousands of
young Arrowmen know who he is – but his quiet, devoted persistence on their
behalf has played a major role in the programs which touched their lives in
truly profound ways."
"I hate to see him go – but he goes with our gratitude for a job well done,"
Pease said.
Haddock echoed Pease's praise for Miller's service to high adventure and
added, "Carey's positive attitude and sense of humor will be greatly missed. I
am grateful for his unselfish service to the Order of the Arrow and wish God's
richest blessings on Carey and Jan as he retires from the Boy Scouts of
America."
Miller's storied Scouting career will be remembered for his transformative
service to the Order of the Arrow. During his tenure in the national office,
Miller oversaw the 2011 Indian Summer, the development of the Canadian Odyssey
and Ocean Adventure high adventure programs, the publication of the National
Bulletin, the creation of the Order of the Arrow Mentoring program, and the
Order's support of the "little men in blue" with the production of the OA Cub
Scout support toolkit.
"These are legacies that we wouldn't have without his personal leadership and
involvement," Capp said. "We are grateful for Carey Miller."
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