OMAHA Perfecting his profession for more than 50 years, Col. Gerry Miller, Hartington, was inducted into the Nebraska Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame at ceremonies conducted at the 56th annual convention of the Nebraska Auctioneers Association, June 11-13, at the Omaha Marriott Hotel. Convention highlights included the annual induction of members into the Nebraska Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members for 2004 were Col. Gerald Miller and Col. Blaine Farrar. “Gerry has exhibited high standards of professionalism, honesty and integrity throughout his career. Anytime a volunteer is needed, Gerry has always offered his services,” wrote partners Ryan Creamer and Alton Heimes in the Hall of Fame nomination letter. Miller graduated from Hartington High School in 1945 and served with the Air Force in the Pacific Theater after graduation. Upon returning from service in World War II, he farmed south of Hartington from 1947 to 1969. He married Marge maiden name on Oct. 23, 1950. The Miller’s have three daughters and three sons, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Miller became involved with the auction business in 1947 after attending the Duncan Brothers Auction School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In his early years of the business he averaged over 100 auctions per year. He sold livestock in the Laurel Sale Barn for almost 30 years, and in the Yankton, S.D., Sale Barn for 12 years. Today he is a partner in the Miller Creamer Heimes Janssen Auctioneers & Appraisers LLC Auction firm. With further interests, he purchased shares in the Hartington John Deere dealership in 1960, and in 1965 he became the sole owner of Gerry Miller Implement, Hartington. Over the years has he expanded his business to other John Deere Dealerships in Wayne, Bloomfield and Laurel. At the convention, Miller was cited for his life-long membership in the Nebraska Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association, and for his active service in all leadership capacities of the Nebraska Association. He has been on the Board of Directors, served as second vice president, first vice president, and in 1991 as president of the Association. Over the years, Miller has also served on special committees within the Association. In 1994 he was the recipient of the Auctioneer of the Year Award. Honored for his professional leadership, Miller was venerated for his service to the Hartington community through his work for charities and his service on several boards and organizations in the Hartington area. He served on the Hartington City Council for 25 years and was mayor of Hartington for three terms. He is a member and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, belongs to the American Legion, is a lifetime member of the VFW, is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, was director of the Hartington Industrial Development Association and served on the Hartington Telephone Board for over 15 years. Miller served as a board member of the Natural Resource District, a trustee of the Sacred Heart Hospital Board in Yankton, a trustee of the Iowa/Nebraska Farm Equipment Dealers Association and Legislative Committee, a trustee of the Cedar Catholic Endowment Fund Board and past chairman of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Finance Committee. He has also worked for several groups, including the local FFA Chapter, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, White Tails Unlimited and Cedar County Catholic Schools. Community-based awards include the Cedar County Outstanding 4-H Boy Award in 1945, Hartington Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 1955, Cedar County Soil Conservation Award in 1956, Cedar County livestock Feeder Award in 1978, Hartington Community Service Award in 1983, plus several other awards over the years. “Gerry is always willing to help others and to give of himself for the betterment of the community. He is very respected for his vast knowledge, not only in the auction and agriculture businesses, but also in his methods of relating with people,” Creamer and Heimes wrote. Another 2004 Hall of Fame recipient, Farrar, of Curtis, was cited for his life-long membership in the Association, his service on the Board of Directors as well as serving as President of the Association, and his professional leadership both to the industry and his local community through his work for charities. The Nebraska Auctioneers Association is a professional association representing auctioneers across Nebraska. Members provide auction services to business, institutions, farmers and individuals ranging from livestock, farm, real estate, household goods, antiques, coins, automobiles and any types of goods that are sold at auction.