Governor Justice Honors Sheriff Virgil D. Miller with Half-Staff Flag Order

April 7, 2023

Mountaineer News

WV Gov. Jim Justice

CHARLESTON, WV - West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has taken a step to honor the life and service of Upshur County Sheriff Virgil Douglas "Skipper" Miller, who passed away recently. The Governor has issued a proclamation directing all United States and West Virginia flags to be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex and all state-owned facilities in Lewis, Upshur, and Webster counties from dawn to dusk tomorrow, April 8, 2023.

In his Administration Update Briefing on Wednesday, Gov. Justice expressed his condolences and paid tribute to Sheriff Miller's remarkable public service record. The late Sheriff served in the United States Army as part of the military police and later joined the Webster County Sheriff's Office in 1977. He served in various positions, including Magistrate in Upshur County and Chief of the Buckhannon Police Department for three years.

Sheriff Miller's dedication to public service was unwavering. He was elected to his fifth term as Sheriff of Upshur County in 2020, making him the longest-serving active Sheriff in West Virginia. We join Governor Justice and the people of West Virginia in honoring and remembering Sheriff Miller's distinguished life and service to the community. You can view the Governor's proclamation on his official website.

“We’ve lost a longtime county sheriff in Upshur County, Virgil Miller passed away very suddenly this week. Sheriff Virgil Miller was serving his third term as Upshur County as our sheriff after being elected in 2020.”

“He previously served two eight-year posts as our sheriff in Upshur County and had an incredible career in regard to law enforcement, He started out in Webster County and came to Upshur County in 1980 (seems like yesterday). In addition to his role as sheriff, he served the county as the chief deputy, the magistrate, and chief of the Buckhannon Police Department.”

“I have issued a proclamation to lower the U.S. and West Virginia flags in Upshur County on the date of his funeral, and surely, we are going to keep his family and him in our prayers,” Justice said.

Read the official proclamation HERE.