Denis W Miller Nita M Landrum Award Winner Video

Denis W. Miller
73 BS Accounting
Phillipsburg, Kansas

Denis W. Miller, Phillipsburg, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from FHSU in 1973. He is a partner in Mapes and Miller CPAs, Phillipsburg.

After graduating from FHSU, he worked from 1973 to 1976 as a staff accountant for Fox & Co. in Wichita while working to obtain his CPA. He went on to work for two years as controller for and oil company in Hutchinson. He was in charge of the Smith Center office of Kennedy & Coe from 1978 to 1984 then moved on to start his own practice in the basement of his mothers house in Phillipsburg.

In 1989, he bought a Stockton practice and merged with Vick and Mapes CPAs of Norton in 1990, the firm now known as Mapes and Miller CPAs. The firm has six offices, Phillipsburg, Norton, Stockton, Quinter, WaKeeney and Hill City, with four partners (three of them FHSU alumni) and 35 employees.

It has been my sincere privilege to know Denis as both a brother FHSU alumnus and also as a business and community development leader for the Phillips County area and the western Kansas region, writes Jeff Hofaker 90, director of Phillips County Economic Development. Hofaker cites his volunteer work in the community and for economic development.

I am, as the entire area is, very fortunate to have such an active and giving leader for our community and area, said Hofaker. Denis is yet another success story in leadership and community service for the alumni of Fort Hays State University.

At FHSU, he was involved with Alpha Kappa Psi, for accounting, business and finance students; Psi Eta Sigma, an honorary for freshmen, and Phi Beta Lambda, a student business organization.

Miller is and has been a member of numerous professional and business organizations and is a past president of the Phillipsburg Chamber of Commerce and the Phillipsburg Rotary Club. He is a past board member of the Kansas Society of CPAs (KSCPA) and is also a past chair of several KSCPA committees. He also served on the State of Kansas Banking Board and head of the local economic development committee.

He is active as a member of the FHSU College of Business and Leadership Committee, is a trustee of the FHSU Foundation Executive Committee and is a member of the Foundations Investment Committee.

He is a life member of the FHSU Alumni Association and is a past member of the Board of Directors. His service to the university has also included serving on a committee to find a dean for the College of Business and Leadership.

He and his wife, Geraldene Sue Miller, are steadfast supporters of Tiger athletics and hold season tickets. He hires FHSU graduates whenever possible and sponsors the annual Student Recognition Program in Phillipsburg. He also actively recruits incoming and transfer students and serves on three local foundation boards that provide scholarships to area students and grants to local organizations.

He volunteers at the local movie theatre, a non-profit organization, and also at the Kansas Biggest Rodeo.

The Millers have two children, Heather 98, and Michael.