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In 1988, the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame was created to honour those that demonstrated unselfish achievement within the realm of agriculture and service to the rural community.
Photo image of W.V. (Win) Miller

Miller, W. V. (Win)

- 1991
1919-2023

Inducted: October 30, 1991

Win Miller served as an "agricultural reporter" during a period of rapid advances in agricultural technology. She was Chief of the Chatham Bureau of The London Free Press from the l950s to the l980s during which time agricultural history was in the making

Win Miller, though short in stature, stood tall amongst her agricultural media counterparts in Ontario. Her articles were deemed credible and accurate denoting the pulse of the occasion. In fact, her credibility prompted much of her originality of agricultural source writings to be rewritten and aired or sourced by other dailies, weeklies or media stations.

Win was diligent in attending agricultural meetings which were synonymous with Kent County--known throughout the Province as the turf of field crop marketing boards, agricultural organizations and field crop research. As diverse and often confrontational as these meetings were, Win possessed a fortitude and saneness to report the positive qualities the debates engendered, in order that her readers not be misled but enlightened as to the tempo of decisions the meeting pursued. Through her positive reporting, Win Miller gained the respect and confidence, not only of the farmers attending the meeting but also of the representatives from provincial or federal levels in farm organizations. She was a reporter one could depend upon as a reliable source, as well as one who would hold in confidence events on the drawing board, not yet made public.

Win personified a "good reporter" as having a creative flair. Win would absorb the atmosphere of smoke-filled meeting rooms, off-coloured stories, and dry wit that pronounced the environment of the meeting so as to adequately inform her many readers. Yet, Win remained flexible in attending agricultural meetings despite having already served a packed "news day" believing a story could emerge and her readers would benefit from her presence and copy submitted.

The talents of Win Miller are diversified--not only was she a conscientious and dedicated reporter, but these same talents were exemplified in her family life--a wife to the late Bill Miller, a mother to Peter and Paul, a grandmother, and a daughter of the late Victor and Grace Lauriston. In March of this year, that same dedication was evident as Win completed the revision and update of "Romantic Kent", a history of Kent County, written by her father depicting the years 1626 to 1952. The history of Kent agriculture forms a valid trademark in the volume.

Another of her accomplishments was the research and production of the history of Union Gas. Her understanding of and reporting on the administration of education in Kent is also noteworthy. She has been the Editor of the publication "Features" for the Kent County Board of Education for the past five years. She was highly respected for the reporting of both City and County Council meetings during her tenure at the London Free Press. Since the Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame was established in l989, she has been the biographer for those persons inducted to date.

Win has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions which depict her versatility. They include the Queen's Jubilee Medal, the Sertoma "Service to Mankind" Award, as well as the Chatham and District Chamber of Commerce plaque in appreciation for her many years of outstanding reporting and community service to the agricultural and business community of Chatham and Kent County. Possibly, one of Win's proudest achievements was a year ago when she graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was on the President's Roll.

Win possessed many talents and these she has shared with her community. Win was an Elder of Victoria Avenue United Church and served the Kent Presbytery as a Representative Elder. She served as President of the Macaulay Club, a renowned debating club in Chatham. She also devoted her talents to the developmentally handicapped.

Win possessed a strong community involvement spirit to which she had employed the same enthusiasm exemplified by her many dedicated talents.