Fred Miller honored with ethics and integrity award
by Lindsay Hoeppner · July 07, 2010

Morality. Ethics. Integrity.

Those were the principles Paul Harris had in mind 105 years ago as he assembled a group of business and professional men who wanted to service the community, engage in fellowship and promote each other’s businesses.

The result?

Rotary.

Now, however, Harris’ ideology has taken on a whole new meaning, especially in relation to the Rotary Club of West Liberty.

At the club’s annual changeover dinner last Tuesday, June 29, President Tom Brooke documented Harris’ ethical business practices and explained how the club settled on a recipient of its newest honor — the Vocational Service Award for Ethics and Integrity.

“We wanted to select a person who embodied those principles and we chose a man who has been a friend of both rural and urban residents and has been a community booster all his life,” Brooke said. “Even though he has suffered with physical problems, he never gives up and is at the store every day. People know they can trust him and his sons, who he has raised with the same ethical standards. That man is Fred Miller.”

Fred opened Fred’s Feed and Supply in 1966.

At that time, it was just a little feed store. There were plenty of hardware stores during that time — four, to be exact. In fact, there was pretty much a store for everything in West Liberty in 1966. But, as the various stores started closing, Fred began filling the niches.

Over the years, Fred’s Feed and Supply has expanded to include farm seeds, animal care products, livestock equipment, lawn and garden supplies, pet foods, paint, hardware and more.

The store moved to its current location, at 110 W. Third St., in 1976 — the same year Fred’s son, Larry Miller, began working full-time at the business. Fred’s other son, Bruce, joined the team full-time three years later.

“We always helped out when we were children, too,” Bruce said.

Bruce and Larry bought the business from their dad in 1996, but that doesn’t mean Fred isn’t still involved.

Rather, he still shows up for work every day.

Fred’s Feed and Supply may have been what catapulted Fred to success in West Liberty, but the business is not his only source of involvement in the community.

Fred has served West Liberty by being a 30-year plus member of the West Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, past president of the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce, past president of the West Liberty Lions Club, past member of the Muscatine County Fair Board and past member of the West Liberty Board of Adjustment.

No matter, Fred was still surprised when he was deemed the recipient of the Vocational Service Award for Ethics and Integrity.

“I had no idea,” he said.

And although Fred hasn’t put the honorary plaque on display yet, he has an ideal location in mind.

“I think we’re going to put it out front next to the paint display,” he said.



Award Inspiration:

As Rotary Club of West Liberty members were thinking about naming the Vocational Service Award for Ethics and Integrity, since it is the first time the club has awarded such an honor, members searched for an individual in the past who epitomized Paul Harris’ standard of ethics.

Although there were many individuals who would have qualified, the club chose a man who stood out among his peers — Ray Wuestenberg.

Wuestenberg arrived in West Liberty and operated the Ray Wuestenberg Insurance Agency from 1933 to 1968, when he retired.

During Wuestenberg’s early days in West Liberty, he had a partner. However, during the Great Depression, the partner left with all of the insurance agency’s money, leaving Wuestenberg broke.

As a result, Wuestenberg told his creditors that he wanted to stay in West Liberty and would pay all his debts if they would give him a second chance.

“And he did just that,” said Rotary Club of West Liberty President Tom Brooke. “He was an honorable man throughout his entire life.”