County Mayor Jack Lynch, far left, and Commissioner Scott Kitts, second from the left, presented the family of Edgar “Pap” Miller with a plaque in his honor on Monday evening, announcing that the EMS building at Lonas Young Park is to be named and dedicated in recognition of Miller.

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – County Commissioners voted on Monday to dedicate and name the EMS building at Lonas Young Park in honor of Edgar “Pap” Miller.

Miller was instrumental in not only cleaning up the area that was to become the park, but he also provided security to the area, “making it a safe place to visit.”

Commissioner Scott Kits sponsored the resolution to honor Miller, saying that he “deserved credit for all the hard work and dedication” he put into the park.

“I remember Pap well; you never saw him without a smile on his face. He loved his county. They just don’t make people like that anymore,” Kitts said. He also thanked his fellow commissioners for honoring the memory of Pap with the dedication and plaque that will be placed on the building.

“Many years ago, Lonas Young and Pap Miller started that out there. They had a vision and a hope of what it could become,” former Sheriff Ron McClellan said.

Miller’s family was in attendance for the dedication and shared stories about “Pap.”

County Mayor Jack Lynch read a proclamation and presented the family with a plaque to honor Miller.

“Whereas Edgar “Pap” Miller, a Campbell County citizen stepped up and provided security for a lonely TVA space on Norris Lake without pay or recognition and, Whereas, that location was cleaned up and transformed into a beautiful park by the labor of Pap Miller and Lonas Young and, Whereas, today’s children and adults may enjoy baseball, softball, tennis, swimming and soon, camping and soccer and Whereas none of this would be possible today if it had not been for the watchful eye and hard work of Edgar “Pap” Miller.”

“He was a proud Campbell County citizen. I remember he would be out there at the bridge in his blue car. He was around the school and kept an eye out on them before we ever had SRO officers and was the eyes and ears for law enforcement. He was a great man and did a lot for this county,” Lynch said.

According to Pap’s family, he would continue to go out and provide security at the area up into his 90’s.

Former Sheriff Ron McClellan attended the meeting and spoke about “Pap”. 

“Many years ago, Lonas Young and Pap Miller started that out there. They had a vision and a hope of what it could become,” McClellan said.

He recalled seeing “Pap” driving his tractor in his uniform; something he also continued to do up into his 90’s.

“There will never be another like him; he was a good and decent man. We all loved him, and we all miss him,” McClellan said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/21/2024-6AM)

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