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Jessie and Bob Miller have been named this year’s Oracle Oaks Festival Grand Marshals.
John Hernandez | Miner
San Manuel Miner
Bob and Jessie Miller have been selected as this year’s Grand Marshals for the Oracle Oaks Festival. The Millers moved to Oracle from Coolidge in 1956 when Bob took a job with the San Manuel Copper Corporation (Magma). Bob worked at the mill and crusher until 1972 when he went to work for Pinal County as an operator and then a foreman. He retired in 1995. Jessie worked at the Mt. Vista School cafeteria as a cashier for 12 years.
The Millers have been active in the community. Bob was one of the volunteers who helped build the Oracle Community Center. He was one of the block layers. Jessie has volunteered for the food distribution program run through St. Mary’s Food Bank and the county off and on for over 25 years. She still volunteers for the food distribution program from the food share program which is now at the Pinal County Health/Sun Life building. Bob and Jessie were 4H Club Community Leaders for nine years and Bob was on the board of directors for 4H Club for the county. Jessie taught cooking and sewing while Bob taught leather craft. One year all the kids took their leather work to the Pinal County Fair where they all won blue ribbons.
Bob has done his share of roping as a cowboy in Coolidge and entering roping contests. He used to rope in events held in an arena behind the Oracle Inn back in the 50s and 60s. Jessie has also done some roping. The Millers have an arena on their property in Oracle and Bob has taught roping to his kids and grand kids. Four of the young people he has worked with have gone on to compete at the National Rodeo Championships including his daughter Linda Smith and grandson Wyatt Althoff. Arianna Assini and Bobby Flores are the other champions he has helped teach.
Bob enjoys hunting and the Millers like going to the lake and camping. Every year for the past 30 years during quail season, Bob and Jesse camp by Black Mountain and put on a quail dinner for family and friends. One year they had a 105 people show up. Jessie and Bob will have been married for 63 years in May. They have six grand children and 14 great grand children. Jessie says they love dancing and still dance on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Oracle Inn. Congratulations to the 2015 Oracle Oaks Festival Grand Marshals Bob and Jessie Miller!
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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