Gene Miller - For 60 years Gene Miller has been the owner and Chairman Emeritus of the “Bored” of Gene Miller Company, Inc. d/b/a Miller the Driller devoting that entire time to underground construction.

Gene’s love for construction started as a very young man.  He learned many facets of the trade while working with and for Einer Kramme, Iowa Bridge Construction and Sofus Kramme, KS Kramme and Sons.  He actually drilled his first hole in 1945.  Those experiences set his path of a life long love of the industry and solving the many challenges that were encountered.  As a young entrepreneur, he was always ahead of his time.

Gene founded the company in 1948 with a Jeep Trencher and his Black Dog Nipper.  Over the course of the next 60 years, the company grew and evolved from the trenching business to a leader in Trenchless Technology, including auger boring, pipe jacking, Tunneling, large diameter pipe rams and horizontal directional drilling.

Gene has pioneered many of the methods popular today and is known around the country for his innovative ideas.  Many napkins have left the dinner table with Gene’s suggestions and ideas for a “better way” to do something.  Gene is known for never saying no and never putting limitations on ideas.

Miller the Driller currently holds the world record for the largest Pipe Ram on a project which happens to be in Altoona, Ia.  When that pipe poked out in October of 2003, Gene Miller was on the job very proud of everyone involved.

Gene has been retired from the day to day operations of the company but continues as technical advisor in many aspects of company business.  As father and grandfather to Kris and Brandon he is still personal advisor and mentor.  He is still involved in any unusually challenging projects or as they are referred to in the office, Gene’s weird jobs.

Gene has been married to Martha 59 years and they have made their home in Pleasant Hill for all of those years. They have three daughters, Kris Young (Bob), Debbie Sovereign (Steve) and Penny Bellnap (Dave), eight grandchildren (including Brandon Young) and nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to a career in underground construction that has been anything but boring, Gene has always believed in giving back.  Both Gene and Martha have been involved in their community through the Chamber Little League sponsors, Martha has served in local politics for over 30 years, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Gene and Martha are active members in Oakwood United Methodist Church and the Gideons International. 

In his retirement he has enjoyed working in his woodshop, and turning our some beautiful projects, which some in the AGCI have enjoyed as well. Gene and Martha are Mr. and Mrs. Santa to thousands of kids in East Polk County since the early 1960s.

After many years of requests by family and friends, Gene finally put some of his stories down on paper and they were published in a book, MILLER THE DRILLER, the Man Behind the Name.

Gene’s business ethics and his personal moral standards are one and the same.  Gene IS the man behind the name.

Lyle H. Schlader– Lyle Schlader graduated from Iowa City High School in 1952.  He graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa in 1957.  From 1957-1962 he worked in the farm machinery business.  He joined Allied Construction Company in 1962 and became a shareholder in 1966.  Allied bought Allied Ready Mix in 1969 and Hechman-Reynolds Quarries in 1971 and merged with Greene Limestone in 1975.  They operated three divisions, Paving, Ready Mix and Limestone from there forward. Lyle has served on many Boards, Iowa Ready Mix Concrete Association, Iowa Concrete Pavers, Iowa Limestone Association and was President of Associated General Contractors in 1996.  He also served on the Board of Directors of the Charles City Development Corp since retirement and as its President for the past 4 years.

Lyle and Myrna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2006.  They had 12 children, 25 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  In Lyle’s spare time he volunteers.  He has served on the Iowa City Parish Council, Iowa City School Board, Boy Scouts, Chairman of the Fund Raising Campaign for Time to Remember and the Iowa City School Addition.