After serving 37 years as Greenville Utilities’ first Gas Systems Engineer, with 34 of those years as Director of Gas Systems, Anthony Miller has retired as one of our longest-serving directors in the history of GUC.
“My fondest memories at GUC do not involve awards, accomplishments, or peer recognition, but instead come from watching the individuals within the Gas Department come into their own and be recognized for their skills and accomplishments,” Anthony reflected.
Anthony began his GUC career as our first Gas Systems Engineer in 1988 as well as GUC’s first black engineer. In 1991, he was named Director. He was responsible for the overall operation of the Department, which is now the largest municipal gas system in North Carolina and received numerous state and national awards.
Notable accomplishments of the Department under Anthony’s direction include becoming the first North Carolina public utility to build a Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Facility as well as constructing the only publicly owned Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station in North Carolina east of I-95.
Top departmental awards include the American Public Gas Association (APGA) System Operational Achievement Recognition Award four times, APGA Safety Award for Outstanding Safety Record 11 times, and NC Department of Labor Safety Awards 12 times.
However, Anthony says he’s proudest of his staff for the Million Hours without a lost workday injury accomplishment, which took almost 12 years.
“I’m also proud of my Gas Department colleagues who spent several days and nights filling sandbags during the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 to assist the Water Department, all without official recognition; as well as the high customer service ratings they achieved on each of the Customer Satisfaction Surveys conducted by GUC,” said Anthony. “Their dedication to service is recognized by colleagues in other departments who often tell me that the Gas Department personnel are easy to work with and that they appreciate their assistance during emergencies or other GUC events.”
Anthony’s own awards and recognitions from APGA include the Personal Achievement Award (1999), Distinguished Service Award (2004), Guild Award (2005), and J. Hardie Johnston Service Recognition (2025).
A few other of Anthony’s notable career accomplishments are he co-authored the article “Local Risk Management and Strategic Marketing Opportunities” published by International Business Communications; and led his Department in becoming the first to use computerized maps, directional boring equipment, GIS portal technology, automated vehicle locating, and interview hiring panels at GUC. Anthony implemented LNG storage rates for industrial customers and seasonal rates for tobacco farmers and other summer-use customers, which created a steady revenue stream year-round while helping these customers reduce their capital investment in alternate fuel facilities. He led the Department to issue Revenue Bonds in the 1990s – which was forward thinking at that time - to replace the low-pressure, cast-iron system. He also oversaw the extension of gas mains to Winterville and ensured that every citizen in Greenville had access to natural gas.
“It is truly an honor to speak about someone who has had such a large impact overall at Greenville Utilities, in the Gas Department, and me personally,” said Durk Tyson, Assistant Director of Gas Systems who joined GUC in 2014.
“When Anthony became Director, he had the vision to take GUC’s Gas System and significantly expand it. I was fortunate enough that he reached out to the private company that I was working with [at that time] to help with his vision. Over the next 18 years, I got the opportunity to work with Anthony on more than 20 major expansion projects throughout GUC’s Gas system. Over these last 11 years as a GUC Gas employee, I’ve been fortunate to work closely with Anthony to learn and see what it is to work for a truly thoughtful, effective manager. His leadership has always been rooted in a deep passion for safety, innovation, and service. Under his guidance, the Department grew from 5,300 customers to 25,000 customers, and less than 200 miles of main to now over 750 miles of main. He has implemented technologies that made our operations not only more efficient, but safer.”
Originally from Rutherfordton, NC, Anthony attended NC State University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Before joining GUC, Anthony was an Aerospace Engineer at the Naval Aviation Depot, Cherry Point, NC. He worked on the AV-8B Harrier Jet Program where he designed and led the first major repair of a composite wing and conducted an extensive accident investigation of a jet crash.
His desire to move a little closer to his hometown and to look for a job that would give him the opportunity to help develop others is what led Anthony to GUC, and ultimately his leadership role.
“GUC gave me the opportunity to fulfill both desires,” he said. “My hope is that through my actions, interactions, and words, the next generation understands that leadership is all about building relationships through recognition of others’ talents and contributions, as well as not being afraid to lean on the experts to resolve issues or complete tasks.”
Anthony recalls a time around 1999 when his team overcame a major challenge during one of their coldest winter periods.
“We had trouble maintaining system pressures and meeting customers’ peak demands. It was during a time when we didn’t have a SCADA system capable of controlling the valves at was then only three gate stations and two regulator stations. We also had only two LNG tanks. I watched the team communicate via radio while operating gate and regulator station valves to control flows in certain areas of the system so the pressures in our most vulnerable areas did not drop to zero, while also getting gas to flow out of LNG to meet peak demands. In addition, they had to communicate with our pipeline supplier to get real-time data about our flows throughout the night. We were able to achieve this without the current technology to control flow but through communication, manual labor of turning valves, and employees’ effort to work as a team.”
Anthony says if he could go back and give his younger self advice, it would be this: when implementing changes, get input from the people who the changes will impact and be willing to receive feedback by truly listening, then thank them for helping to make those changes work.
“I came to Greenville Utilities in 2005, but prior to that, I only knew one person at GUC and that was Anthony Miller,” said General Manager/CEO Tony Cannon. “He is part of the reason I’m here. The professionalism that he displayed not only represented GUC and the industry but represented humanity in general. Anthony has always held himself to a high standard and those around him to a high standard, and we’ve all gotten better because of it. Our leadership and safety programs would not be anywhere near where they are today without Anthony’s leadership.”
Outside of his leadership role at GUC, Anthony served on the Board of Directors for APGA and chaired several APGA committees, including Chairman of the Board Fiscal Year 2005-2006. He was active in the Southeastern Gas Association and the NC Municipal Gas Association prior to it merging with the South Carolina Natural Gas Utilities to form the Carolina Public Gas Association (CPGA). He was the first GUC representative to serve as Chairman of APGA’s Board, in addition to their first black Chairman.
Anthony says he plans to spend more time in retirement working at his church, being a taxi for his 5-year-old grandson, and spending more time with his 88-year-old mother.
Anthony, we thank you for your 37 years of service and leadership and wish you the best of times in retirement!
