Van Miller

Miller served several years as the sports director for WIVB-TV (Channel 4) and retired in June of 1998 after 43 years at the station. While at WIVB he did the weather, news and was emcee of the TV quiz show "It's Academic" and had an afternoon radio show on WBEN in the 1960s.

Miller volunteered his services to several organizations and in 1998 received the Fredonia State Distinguished Service Award.

The interest of broadcasting for Miller started way back in third grade in Dunkirk where he did play-by-play on the back porch while using a hose and a funnel.

Miller was a starter in basketball during his freshman and sophomore years for St. Mary's in Dunkirk, but when coach Eddie Hayes entered World War II a change in schools was made. Dunkirk coach Charlie Acey had been attempting to persuade Miller to go to his school and that was what happened when Hayes left for the military.

Miller played football for Coach Carl Hoeppner as a junior, but that spring he suffered a serious right shoulder injury at his after-school job. That injury that required surgery never healed and when playing tennis he has to serve with his left hand.

His senior season (1944-1945) at Dunkirk saw Miller start on a basketball team that lost just three times. After graduation, he went to Fredonia State where he played a year of basketball, but old high school injuries with his shoulder and his leg changed his direction.

"I really wanted to be a coach and an athletic director but the injuries took a lot out of me," Miller told the Evening Observer.

While listening to a basketball broadcast on WFCB in Dunkirk, Miller was upset by the poor announcing. He called the station and told the manager he could do a better job. He was hired and worked five years at that station before heading to Buffalo in 1955 as a summer replacement.

The rest you can say was history for Miller.