Nominations for the Grand Island Senior High School Hall of Honor are accepted throughout each year. The Hall of Honor Committee will review all submitted nominations and honor inductees every other year. We are excited to announce the Hall of Honor Banquet & Celebration will be held again on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
The Hall of Honor, inaugurated in 1983, recognizes Grand Island Senior High School alumni who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the betterment of society. Nominees must have graduated more than 20 years ago from the high school.
Hugh Miner, Jr.
Class of 1964
Hall of Honor 2006
Hugh Miner, Jr. is a 1964 graduate of Grand Island Senior High School and a 1968 graduate of Kearney State College majoring in Business Administration. Prior to attending high school, and while in high school and college Mr. Miner gained valuable experience in the business world by working during the summer months and on weekends. Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Miner had saved enough money to pay for his college education at Kearney.
In October of 1968, Mr. Miner entered the U.S. Army and after basic training was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia until October of 1970. He then began his career at Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, Fonner Park. Mr. Miner worked under the guidance of former General Manager, Al Swihart from 1970 to 1983 as Assistant General Manager. When Mr. Swihart passed away in 1983, Mr. Miner was named to succeed him as General Manager. In 1993, Hugh Miner was appointed as Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, the positions he continues to hold today.
Community Service has been an important part of Mr. Miner’s adult life. Current Affiliations include – CEO, Heartland Events Center; Director – Home Federal Bank; Director – Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America; and Hall County Fair Board Member.
Past Affiliations include Past President of Thoroughbred Racing Associations of Nebraska and the Hall County Extension Board. Past Board Chairman of The Grand Island Area United Way; The Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation; Chamber of Commerce President’s Club; and Finance Committee Trinity United Methodist Church. Past Board Member of Saint Francis Hospital, Grand Island Memorial Hospital, Stuhr Museum Foundation, Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill Industries, and a Director of The National Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau.
Miner has received many special awards including The Meritorious Service to 4-H, 1988; The Distinguished Service Award Non-Rotarian of the Year 1991-92; The Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, 1993. Additionally Miner served as the 2000 Grand Marshal of the Harvest of Harmony Parade and in 2006 was inducted into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame.
During Hugh Miner’s career at Fonner Park, his involvement and leadership role in the planning, development and construction of the Heartland Events Center helped to make a long-term difference in the quality of life in the Grand Island Area. The Heartland Events Center project was achieved through the “joint cooperation and involvement” of the Fonner Park Board of Directors, the Membership of the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association (Fonner Park), the Heartland Events Center Board and Staff, Grand Island Motel Owners, the City of Grand Island and City Council, the Hall County Board, together with many generous gifts from foundations, individuals, businesses, the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation, and a large group of civic-minded individuals, volunteers, and organizations, along with the media. The events center opened in late 2006.
Mr. Miner resides in Grand Island and has two grown daughters and two grandsons.
