2021

Distinguished Alumni Awards 

The Board of Education of Centralia High School proudly announces the following individuals as recipients of the Centralia High School Distinguished Alumni Award
Class of 2021

James H. Sumner

James H. Sumner

Class of 1965

Graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, 1970 

Served as farm editor of Daily Lancaster Intelligencer Journal in Pennsylvania 

Appointed Director of Marketing for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 

Became Vice President of Communications for large regional dairy cooperative 

Recruited by USAPEEC, which helped bolster U.S. 

poultry and egg exports: helped expand development of these exports in China, Russia, Cuba, Vietnam, and many other countries Involved in the formation of the International Poultry Council, 2005 President of IPC for 14 years, representing the global poultry industry President of the World Poultry Foundation 

Launched projects including the African Poultry Multiplication Initiative in Nigeria and Tanzania, which created a million smallholder farmers, mostly women, enabling them to start their own businesses Through USAPEEC, helped create separate trading associations in Central America, Panama, and Columbia 

 Received the 2012 NPFDA Poultry Industry Lifetime Achievement Award 

Received Urner Barry 1998 Merchandising Man of the Year, for Outstanding Service to the Poultry Industry 

Latin American Poultry Association 2019 Latin American Poultry Congress, for support of the Latin American poultry industry through USAPEEC and the International Poultry Council

Dale B. Miller

Dale B. Miller

Class of 1970

Created or operated 55 radio stations in his career

Developed a radio group from an AM and FM radio combination to a total of 37 stations in West Virginia and Maryland

Served as President, CEO, and Managing Partner of the nine West Virginia Radio Corporations

Founded Metronews Radio Network in West Virginia

Spent 36 seasons as the game site producer, director, and writer of the West Virginia University Mountaineer Sports Network

Served as the Executive Producer for radio, television, and digital assets for all high school championship events in West Virginia since 1985

Awarded five Marconi Awards for Broadcast Excellence

Received four Emmy Awards for live sports programming and feature length documentaries

Awarded 27 Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in News

Served as President of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association

Member of the National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors for three terms

Inducted into West Virginia Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, 1993

Inducted into The Museum of Radio & Technology Hall of Fame, 2006

Received Milan Puskar Award for Community Service, 2016

Received West Virginia House of Delegates Legislative Citation, 2021

Awarded National Federation of State High Associations Lifetime Service Award, 2021

Named by Radio Ink Magazine as one of America's five best operators of radio groups

Dale Miller Field dedicated in Morgantown, West Virginia, 2021

Centralia High School Distinguished Alumni Awards-2021