Giving back to the community comes natural for Dave Miller
I met Dave Miller before I knew I met Dave Miller, I guess you could say. I have given blood all my life and Dave runs the regular blood drives here on Folly Beach. It was probably five years ago that I met him, but I didn’t really get to know him for a while. I just knew him as the tall guy that runs this blood thing. It wasn’t until I was at the Bark Park and one of the dog owners suggested he would be a great person for this column.
It turns out that Dave not only runs the blood drive but is also a leader in the Folly Beach Civic Club, helps put together The Sandspur, and works tirelessly to protect the turtles on our island. He’s an inspiration for us all in the realm of how to be a contribution to a community.
I recently met up with Dave and his wife Kathy at the Drop-In Bar & Deli for breakfast. While woofing down my breakfast burrito, I discovered that I coincidently met their daughter and grandkids at a New Year’s Eve party. Eric, their son-in-law, plays drums in the Folly Beach band “Storm Surge,” who was rocking the house that night. Small world. It was great getting to know Dave, and the next time I give some of my O positive, I’ll give him a hug rather than a handshake.
FOLLY CURRENT: Where were you born and how long have you been tied to Folly?
DAVE MILLER: I was born on the 4th of July near Chicago Illinois. I moved here on Leap Day (Feb. 29) 2016.
FC: What’s your favorite thing about Folly Beach?
DM: It’s small and eclectic. It’s uniquely different than any of the other southern beach towns. There are so many people to know and get to know. It’s a small island community but it’s really a neighborhood.
FC: Share a story you are fond of about Folly Beach.
DM: Anyone that knows me, knows my stories around Folly have to do with nature. Once I was on my back deck and I saw a 9-foot dolphin in the water. They call me the turtle guy. I’m the person that holds the Department of Natural Recourses permit for turtle protection activities. I’ve helped train over 55 people on how to properly identify and mark turtle nests and have walked the Folly beaches at 6 am during turtle season for the last 9 years. I just love nature.
FC: In your opinion, what’s the most important issue facing our community today?
DM: The rise of the sea is the most important issue today. The sea level keeps rising, I live on the marsh, and I experience it in real-time. At least 4 times a year, I must wade in ankle-deep water just to get to the car. Several times a year I can’t even drive my car because of the water level caused by the king tide. One day, Folly Beach may become uninhabitable due to the vulnerability of barrier islands. I’d say 20 years or less before the washout is a bridge connecting us to a smaller island of what used to be part of us and 50 years before the whole thing is under water.
FC: If you were in charge, how would you fix it?
DM: I’d start building bridges and raised roads today. I’d raise the causeway bridge that goes over the Folly River, and I’d probably just continue raising from Crosby’s all the way down to Harris Teeter.
Every month, local entrepreneur and author Pat “Wiggy” Hiban interviews a different “Face of Folly” for this column. If you have an idea of someone you think Pat should chat with, please send suggestions to editor@follycurrent.com.
