Hall of Fame
The only student-athlete to ever receive the NAIA’s Emil S. Liston Award, John Miller helped lay the foundation of what is now Crimson Storm basketball. The Liston Award is given annually by Daktronics to recognize a male and female junior basketball player based on scholarship, character and playing ability.
Miller who played from 1971-75 for the then Bethany Nazarene College Redskins, finished with 355 free throws made and 477 attempted, both are fourth all-time in program history. He also finished his career with 710 rebounds the ninth most in school history.
Miller graduated from Southern Nazarene with a bachelor’s in business administration/political science in 1975 before heading to play professionally over seas. He started in the 1975-76 season with Club Perrier in Nimes, France and then played for the ATS Giants in Manchester, England, for the 1976-77 season.
While in England he began studying English common law as a Rotary Foundation Scholar at Victoria University of Manchester. Miller came back to Oklahoma where he attended the University of Oklahoma School of law from 1978-81 and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1981. He then served on the Attorney General counsel of Oklahoma Securities Commission from 1981-83 before a 15-year stint as a Special District Judge for the 22nd Judicial District in Pontotoc County (Oklahoma). Since 2008, Miller has run a private practice right near his college stomping grounds in Bethany. He has served as an adjunct profess at SNU since 2008 and was in the same role at East Central University in Ada, Okla., from 2003-09.
In 2008 he received the Award for Judicial Excellence from the Pontotoc County Bar Association.
Miller married his wife Becky married in 1980 and had five children; Heather, Hannah, John Michael, Kathryn and David. They have one granddaughter Kaelyn.
“My time at SNU was one of the most fulfilling and enriching experiences of my life,” said Miller. “I cannot imagine a better or more fulfilling college experience than I experienced at SNU. The coaches, professors, friends and fellow students God allowed to intersect my life during that time were life-altering. The encouragement of my coaches and professors to pursue excellence in all things for the glory of God really helped set my life course. I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity I was blessed with to receive intellectual, social and spiritual growth at SNU, which prepared me for the journey of life. As I reflect back on my life, I recognize God's faithfulness and mercy toward my life and I am overwhelmed by the blessings He has brought my way in the form of people and opportunities as He has guided my path. It is my desire to honor Him and remain a faithful witness of my Lord Jesus Christ to the end.”
