Tyler Miller, 30
By Courtney Luke
Clarkton's Tyler Miller has been a member of the Clarkton City Council and a member of the Clarkton Board of Education.
A 2003 graduate of the high school, both the school and the town have always been important to him.
"You can come here with nothing- no matter your color or income or name," he explains of the school district , continuing "Here, politics matter a little less."
Tyler attended elementary school at both Clarkton and in Warrenton, Missouri before returning to Clarkton for junior high and high school.
He was a guard on the winning basketball team. Though having the best record in school history, 27-2, they were unable to bring home the win during the quarter finals losing by just four points.
Tyler believes that game had a tremendous impact on the way he views life. Losing that game after working so hard throughout the season has served to motivate him to not be content and always continue to strive for something better.
While in high school, he was also a member of STUCO, FCCLA, president of the senior class, played the trumpet in the school band and a member of the pep band.
At 16, he began racing at the Sikeston Drag Strip. His dad had a car and they both raced. That hobby has continued to this day and in 2011, he even had the opportunity to spend five weeks racing in the middle-eastern country of Qatar.
After graduating from high school, Tyler began attending college at Orange Coast College in southern California before transferring to SEMO and TRCC where he pursued a social studies degree.
During that time period, he gained certification to be a basketball coach.
In 2005, he took over running his dad's trucking company while still attending college, substitute teaching, and coaching basketball.
In 2006, Tyler accepted a full-time job in the special education department at Clarkton School and was also the elementary P.E. coach.
For the next three years, he worked at the school in some capacity before beginning a career in insurance.
For ten months, Tyler worked for Reliable Life Insurance before joining Delta Insurance with a focus on crop insurance.
As a new agent, licensed in all types of insurance, Tyler soon realized that you cannot stay in your office waiting for people to walk in and buy insurance from you. His office was in a small building at a main intersection in Clarkton. In that location, he also sold carpets, produce, used cars, fall decorations, and anything else he felt could make money. On the weekends, a flea market was at the location. He also bought some rental properties during that time.
Soon, his crop accounts begin to increase, but he also kept peddling the other items.
In 2010, he married his wife Lesley. They now have two children, Keithan who is 3, and Raeley who is 2.
Also in 2010, he ran for and won a position on the Clarkton City Council. At the time, he was encouraged to run by citizens who thought his youth could give a fresh perspective. He wanted to help the town that meant so much to him. He was part of the Council when they worked on their sewer plant project. When his family moved from the neighborhood he represented, he resigned the position.
Clarkton Community Leaders was also an organization Tyler played a part in. They would meet twice monthly to discuss and plan for the community's progress. They also did volunteer work and cleaned up trash.
In 2011, Tyler began working for Agrilogic Insurance Services.
In April 2012, Tyler was elected to a seat on the Clarkton School Board. At the time, the school was deficit spending and Tyler wanted to help change that.
"That school meant a lot to me," he explained, continuing, "from the band program to athletics to the lunch ladies." Tyler says that some accuse him of only being focused on the school's spending, but he explained that he understands that the kids are the most important thing, but without money available, they would not have a school to attend.
He believes the school is headed in a good direction with good administrators and board members all contributing to that and knows it can continue.
Despite all the hats he was already wearing, Tyler opened a restaurant. He explains that he had always enjoyed cooking and was a fan of Emeril Legasse who inspired him to try new things. A building near his home opened up and Tyler opened the Clarktonian, naming it after the restaurant that was in Clarkton for many years. The building in which the original Clarktonian was housed is no longer standing, but was located just down the road from where the new location is. When they first opened, Tyler was working 50-60 hours per week in the restaurant. He now only works Sundays. The restaurant employs anywhere from 3-5 workers and is open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. He has no intention of expanding the restaurant that is decorated with local memorabilia.
"I just want to have a place to come to here in town."
Just last year, Tyler became a volunteer member of the Clarkton Fire Department, having been inspired following a tragic fire in which there were two fatalities. He hopes to continue his training so that he can be an added asset to the Department.
Often, the Clarkton Fire Department sponsors community events working with the Park Committee. They also host fundraisers assisting families when they experience a death or have other needs.
In February 2014, he began interviewing to fill a spot with Agrilogic as a sales manager over southeast Missouri, Arkansas, and western Tennessee.
Tyler plans to continue to give his insurance customers a strong risk management plan, especially in an uncertain economy and when commodity prices are unstable.
For his family, Tyler hopes to continue to provide a comfortable life. He and his wife, who is a pre-school teacher within the Gideon School District, think it's important for them to go on at least one vacation together each year. They also enjoy crappy fishing and are able to get to Reelfoot Lake several times a month when the weather accommodates.
Tyler is motivated to help others and believes it is important to realize that you should not do things for others expecting an immediate reward.
Not only is he able to help through the various organizations he has been part of, he is, through the restaurant, able to help the elderly and disabled providing food for them.
"If people did more for others without wanting anything in return, they would be better blessed and their life would be more fulfilled. You can't just quit people when they are counting on you."
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