51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

PLAINVIEW – Rev. Richard Miller, retired probation officer and Planview pastor, will be recognized as one of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University’s 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Distinguished Alumni Award winners during a Feb. 17 banquet held as part of the WBU Homecoming celebration in Plainview.

A member of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Pioneer Basketball squad that advanced to the NAIA National Championship finals game in 1985, Miller earned a Bachelor of Science degree from 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ in 1987. A standout starter after transferring from Clarendon College, Miller is a native of Alabama. As a senior, he was named NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, and he was inducted into the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Athletics Hall of Honor in 2011.

Miller embarked on a career in criminal justice in 1988, joining the Hale County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. Moving through various roles through the years, he retired in 2015 after 26 years as a probation officer.

Since 2002, Miller has also served as senior pastor at Happy Union Baptist Church in Plainview. He returned to his alma mater a few years ago to earn a Master of Divinity degree in 2021. He is president of Caprock Association of Churches, and he has served on 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s Board of Trustees for several years. Miller and wife Angelia are owners of the West Texas Fuze AAU Basketball organization.

 “Richard Miller has dedicated his life to helping people, both as a probation officer and as a longtime pastor. The true impact of his work may only be known by God himself,” said Jeffrey Vera, director of alumni relations. “We are grateful for his service to the community and to the university, and we are glad to honor him as a distinguished alumnus.”

The Blue and Gold Banquet is set for 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, on the Plainview campus. It is open to alumni and friends for $15 per person, which includes dinner. In addition to Miller, honorees include Donnie Brown, longtime campus minister; Rick Cooper, longtime basketball coach; Kathie Jackson, longtime educator; young alumnus honoree Dr. Hailey Budnick, a neurosurgical resident; and benefactor honoree Sally Dillman Eaves.

The dinner is one piece of the homecoming weekend lineup that can be found online at . Registration is available at that site. For more information, contact Vera at (806) 291-3600.