Dr. David Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hendrick Home for Children, has announced his retirement at the end of the year.
Buddy Napier, Chairman of the Home’s Board of Trustees, said, “David has been an outstanding President of Hendrick Home. He has served with a gentle strength; and, he has left an indelible mark, not only on our campus and our operations, but also on every child who has walked through our doors. He has devoted most of his adult life to the Home, always striving to continue the vision of our founders, Tom and Ida Hendrick.”
Joining the Home’s staff 32 years ago, Miller first served as Vice President of Community Relations and Development, under then President, Claude Hicks. He was named President of the Home on January 1, 1994.
As a direct result of Miller’s vision and leadership, in 1998 the Board approved the 2020 Vision Plan, a long-term plan for the Home’s facilities and campus. That plan put the Home on a road map which resulted in the construction of Patty’s Cottage, the Rhodes Complex, the Ramsey Maintenance and Storage Facility, the Foy Wilks Cottage, the Judith Matthews Cottage, and the Bernard Hanks Equestrian Center. The final and most significant phase of the plan is the construction of a new Main Building — a modern replica of the old Main Building, now scheduled for completion in July of this year. In addition to administrative space, and dining and meeting rooms, the new Main Building will have the capacity to serve 50 additional clients.
Long time Trustee, Joe Crawford, said, “All of these structures and improvements will enable the Home to expand on its true mission of serving children by providing them with a safe, nurturing environment, and preparing them for meaningful lives as adults.”
Another accomplishment of the David Miller era at Hendrick Home is the addition of the popular “Dancing with the Abilene Stars” — one of Abilene’s premier charitable fund raisers.
Throughout his tenure, Miller enjoyed working with the Board of Trustees. He said, “I was privileged to work consistently with excellent trustees, all of whom have been stalwart leaders in Abilene. My first chairperson was Oliver Howard, who was then serving as Abilene’s Mayor, and later chairpersons Bob Tiffany, Howard Wilkins, Amber Cree, and another mayor, Grady Barr. The quality of board members throughout all these years has always been of the highest caliber. It’s been my honor and pleasure to work with great trustees, and to have the support of an outstanding staff.”
Additionally, Miller said, “What I am most proud of is the lifelong relationships I have formed with the children we have served. It is such a thrill to observe these children become leaders of families and communities, professionals of all kinds, and people who are leading lives of service.”
A search committee has begun a search for the new President of Hendrick Home for Children. The Board of Trustees hopes to select that person in the Fall, so that he or she can assume their duties by January 1, 2022.