Paul Miller

Paul was born on June 26, 1920, in Burlingame, the only child of Nathan and Zella Miller. Paul’s father drove a truck for Standard Oil. His mother taught school prior to marriage and later worked for the State Highway Department in Topeka. “My dad was going to be a farmer. He farmed for my grandfather while my grandfather served two terms as Osage County Treasurer,” Paul said. “There was an accident with a barn burning down and this discouraged my father from farming after that.” Paul’s father then bought a brand new Model T Touring car, and the family rode in that to California, where they lived for several years. Though he was only 4 or 5 years old at the time of the drive to California, he remembers the Model T had one window on the front with curtains on the side for a windshield. The trip took nine days. The family moved back to Kansas after the Depression. 

While living in Richmond, Calif., Paul lived across the street from a future pro-baseball player — Johnny Babich. Babich was drafted by the Major League to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. “Because of Johnny helping me when I was young, I learned how to play baseball,” Paul said. “I was not experienced, but when I pitched one of my first games, I pitched a no hitter.” Paul’s first job was as a soda jerk at the local drugstore in Burlingame, where he made 10 cents an hour. In 1937, Paul and his cousin hitchhiked from Topeka through Texas, on to California and back. They rode on freight trains and slept in the box cars. On this trip, Paul recalls a time when he stood up for something he really believed in. “While riding a city bus in Dallas, Texas in the late ‘30s, there was a removable sign that said, ‘All colored people sit behind this sign,’” Paul said. “My cousin and I moved the sign up front as we got off.” 

Paul started school in Richmond, Calif. He graduated from Burlingame High School in Burlingame, Kan. While in high school, Paul played clarinet in the band. He remembers playing in a parade in Topeka for Governor Alfred Landon, when he announced he was running for President of the United States. Paul was enrolled at Baker University on a track scholarship. “I ran short distances, the half mile in 2 minutes and 5 seconds,” Paul said. “I was enrolled, but the Army came first. I was drafted into the Army Air Force.” 

Paul married Helen Brackney before he was drafted into the Army Air Force. They had two children. Paul completed his basic training in Texas. After basic training, he was sent to the Philippines in the Pacific. He served from 1942 to 1946. “We rode the troop ship for 30 days and had to continually change course to avoid mines,” he said. “I worked on instrument panels of the B-17 bombers as an airplane mechanic.” Following his service, he received his pharmaceutical degree from the University of Southern California, through the GI Bill. Paul worked as a pharmacist for 50 years. Helen stayed at home to raise the children, and then later helped to run the drug store in Sabetha. The couple was very involved in playing cards and dancing. They enjoyed square dancing, fox trot, waltz and two-step. Helen passed away in 1987. 

Paul became owner of the Fountain Drug Store when Robert Fountain wanted to retire in 1954. The store was remodeled and renamed. Paul’s children — Karla and Doug — remember Miller’s Fountain and Pharmacy had a soda fountain and jukebox, with several booths in the back. “High school kids would hang out after school and the community would pack the place on Saturday nights,” Karla said. “Songs were 5 cents on the jukebox, the same price as a Coke.” The Sabetha High School Varsity players could come in to the drugstore for a free milkshake or malt after a win. During his time as a Sabetha pharmacist, Paul concocted a hand lotion that farmers would use on dairy cattle that was like Cornhuskers lotion. It included glycerin and rose water. “He would help out customers in need by mailing them their prescriptions free of charge,” Doug said. 

Paul coached little league baseball in Sabetha when Doug was in school. “It was Pony League, I think,” Paul said. “I pretty much coached Doug until he graduated. My neighbor in California taught me a lot about baseball when I was growing up. He taught me how to pitch. My son came to be quite a baseball player, too.” Paul’s advice for parents today is, “don’t over coach them.” “Let them do what they want to do, because they are young. If you like recreation, stick to it. If you’re adept,” Paul said.  

After retirement, he moved to Texas and later moved back to Sabetha, where he now resides at the Apostolic Christian Home. Paul has two children — Karla Epple of Sabetha and Jan Douglas “Doug” of Horseshoe Bay, Texas. He has six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.