Ernest Hemingway once wrote: “It is good to have an end to the journey, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”  For General Manager Rollie Miller, who is set to retire this spring after 44 years in the electric industry, it has been quite a journey.

Rollie began his role as general manager for Vigilante Electric in January 2013. The late Jim Petersen, who was the board president at the time, made the following statement: “The board selected Rollie following a nationwide search. We interviewed many highly qualified candidates. Rollie’s skill set and personal traits will make him a valuable asset for years to come. He is committed to the cooperative principles of doing what is best for our members.”

In the July 2022 edition of Rural Montana Magazine, Rollie’s journey through our industry was chronicled in a story titled “Voltage in Their Veins.” An intriguing story written by Rollie’s sister-in-law, it documents the history of eight members of the Miller family who have had successful careers in the electrical industry.

Rollie’s background lent itself well to managing an organization like ours, but it is far from conventional. After deciding to pursue a career in this industry, he went through a lineman training program and became a journeyman. He then went back to school to study electrical engineering and became a licensed professional engineer. He worked his way through the ranks, eventually earning an opportunity to lead an electrical cooperative, the first being Wyrulec Co. in southeastern Wyoming and concluding his career with us.

Rollie brought the right combination of life and work experience to be a valuable asset to our organization. During his tenure, Vigilante Electric has prospered with record growth and revenues. He is extremely passionate about the safety and well-being of the employee group and the general public as it is deeply personal to him. This commitment to safety has had and will have a lasting impact on our organization. Even during the havoc that COVID brought, Rollie ensured that our organization stayed true to our mission to our members.

Additionally, this would not be a proper tribute without recognizing the contributions of Rollie’s wife Gina and what she has meant to the Dillon community.  Not only has she been the anchor of the Miller family, her work as a home health nurse and her care for and compassion for the individuals and families she has served has been nothing short of remarkable.

As an organization, we thank Rollie for his time and commitment to our organization and members and wish him well in his retirement.