Jan Miller


One of my earliest impressions of life at WAAY-TV was formed when I was newly hired in 1979 as a part-time typist in the Traffic department. My job was to type the log as fast and accurately as possible. (We didn't use computers back then as Mark Derrick was still getting the Radio Shack TRS-80 computers up & running.)

Sometimes I would finish early and had extra time, so I was asked if I would like to answer the telephone at the receptionist's desk. Of course, I was happy to oblige, but I was a bit nervous as I never knew what questions the callers would ask or how I would answer them.

One day, I was sitting at the desk in the lobby just outside the Traffic department when the phone rang. I answered it and said, "Good afternoon, CHANNEL 19" at the exact moment that Vice President & Director of Sales, Dan Whitsett, walked by. Without hesitating he said, "Oh, I thought this was CHANNEL 31" and walked on. I was mortified and was sure I was going to be fired immediately. I kept waiting for the bad news which never came and from that time on I knew I was really going to like working at Channel 31 because of the terrific people there, like Dan and all the rest.

There was such a variety of personalities yet the camaraderie we shared made working at the station so enjoyable.

Jan Miller (1979-1986) (one of Lew's Operations Coordinators)

© 2003 Smith Broadcasting, Inc. [update 6-26-2003]