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Glenn
Miller: Passion for quality Glenn Miller has spent the better part of four decades building a reputation as one of the premier builders in Central Oregon. He’s built some of the most recognizable buildings in Sisters, including Stitchin’ Post, Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply and Sisters Recycling Center. But primarily, GJ Miller Construction is known for top-quality custom home construction. "I just like doing quality work," Miller says. "At the end of the day, when the job is done, you can take some self-satisfaction: This is what we created." Miller first came to Sisters in 1973 with his partner Dick Nichol. "That summer we came over just to frame a couple of houses and pour some foundations at Black Butte Ranch," Miller recalled. "We ended up staying all summer." Miller fell in love with the Sisters Country. "I just love the area," he said. "Friendly people; good people." Miller moved to the area permanently and eventually started his own company. He’s weathered good times and bad, with an abiding faith in the community. Miller has other passions outside his construction business. He’s an avid collector and has what has to be the largest collection of monkey-wrenches anywhere — certainly in Central Oregon. "Years ago, my brother gave me a couple of monkey wrenches," he says by way of explanation. "We’re talking about 30-40 years ago. If I see a monkey wrench, I can’t hold my hand down. I have to buy it." Miller collects other old tools — "90 percent of ’em are tools I started out in the trade with" — and he has an impressive collection of antique firearms. He also likes to gamble. "I like to play Blackjack," he says. "I go to Reno and Vegas a lot. My main passion is rodeo. That developed when I came to Sisters." That passion for rodeo has put Miller in the saddle as president of the Sisters Rodeo Association for the past 13 years. Under his leadership, the Sisters Rodeo has maintained and enhanced its reputation as "The Biggest Little Show in the World," bringing top cowboys and top stock to Sisters each June. The rodeo was honored this year as the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year. Miller is a man of few words and words tend to fail him when he’s describing the tight-knit group of volunteers and the top-quality rodeo they stage each year. "It’s the hardest-working group that I’ve ever been associated with," he says, staring at a shadow box filled with silver buckles he’s earned as president. "It’s really gratifying and I can’t really describe it." The rodeo makes Sisters special, but for Miller, Sisters’ unique qualities always come back to its people. "I think it’s a melting pot of all walks of life," he said. People come to Sisters with varied backgrounds, experiences and skills and apply them to making their new home a fine place to live. "It’s a small community and everybody gets along, basically," he said. "Everybody cares about the community." As a builder, Miller is experiencing life at the eye of an economic hurricane. Times have been tough. But Miller believes that Sisters will come out of the current troubles just as it has in the past, with growth that he considers measured and beneficial. "I think it’ll continue to grow, maybe at a slower pace than it has been," he said. "As a builder, I’d like to see it grow at a managed, good pace. I’d like to see more … clean industry here. People need a good- paying job, period." Miller plans to continue building the finest custom homes, riding herd on a highly successful rodeo and living among the people and country he loves. "I plan on sticking around here for quite a while," he says. "I’m not going anywhere." Return to Extraordinary Sisters.
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