Arcola High School honors distinguished alum, former Illini & NFL athlete

ARCOLA, Ill. (WCIA) — Arcola High School will be honoring one of its most legendary alumni during its football game Friday night.

The school announced that it will host Terry Miller Night as part of the Homecoming festivities. Miller, a 1964 graduate, will be honored with a reception in the library and with a pregame ceremony on the football field.

Miller was a three-sport athlete for Arcola in the early 60s, competing in football, basketball and track and field. He played guard, quarterback and running back on the gridiron, he made the All-State basketball team while leading the Purple Riders to a 25-game winning streak and a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and he set the school record for the discus throw, which stood for 60 years.

Off the field of play, Miller was the 1963 Homecoming King, the first in the school’s history. Arcola only named a Homecoming Queen before that year.

After graduating, Miller attended the University of Illinois on an athletic scholarship. He played basketball for the Illini for one year, threw the discus and javelin for two years on the track and field team, and played football all four years as a linebacker. He made an All-Big Ten team and still holds the program record for interceptions by a linebacker.

Miller went on to be drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 8th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. He spent most of his career in St. Louis with the now-Arizona Cardinals, active on special teams and starting nine games at linebacker before knee injuries led to his retirement in 1974.

After his playing days were over, Miller became active in the horseracing industry, selling insurance on thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses, and hosting seminars on the business. He currently resides in Louisville, Ky.

In 2014, the Arcola Alumni Association inducted Miller into its ranks of Distinguished Alumni. Whenever he’s home, Miller is often found cheering on the Purple Rider football and basketball teams.

Miller will be back at Arcola High School on Friday to be honored by the school. He will be joined by a few distinguished guests representing the teams he played for: from the Cardinals, Tim Bidwell and teammates Johnny Roland and Jackie Smith (College and Pro Football Hall of Famers, respectively); from the University of Illinois, Chris Tuttle and Taylor Edwards; and from Arcola High School, Randy Rothrock.

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