Kennith Miller Story

Ken Miller, the middle child, was born in 1942 and lived and attained his education in West Des Moines: Phenix Elementary, Valley Junior High, and Valley High School. Ken graduated from Drake University with a Bachelor of Science in Education cum laude. He also attained a Master of Science in elementary and secondary administration. Ken was a teacher in elementary and middle schools and a high school Vice Principal.

Ken served his country in the U S Army as a warhead missile specialist and received an honorable discharge.

For 35 years Ken was active in athletics as a player, coach, and umpire in the softball league. He also officiated basketball games.

Ken Miller, the middle child, was born in 1942 and lived and attained his education in West Des Moines: Phenix Elementary, Valley Junior High, and Valley High School.

A Legacy of Love

Growing up in Valley Junction was, as are most people and things, equally wonderful and awful. When I was 18 months old, I was very sick with Rubella (German Measles), and after surviving that, my left eye turned in. My mom took me to Dr. Lambrecht, as she was told he was the best eye doctor. He prescribed glasses until 6th grade when he clipped the muscle. In 8th grade, he clipped a bit more, and it was actually in the correct place for a while. I later found out from the world-renowned specialist in Iowa City that if he had covered my strong eye when I was a small child, I might not have lost the vision in my weak eye. I have always been very self-conscious about it, but was told from a very young age that we must count our blessings and be grateful for life and the capabilities that we have. Apparently, the outcome could have been far worse, and my mom felt blessed I didn’t die or have any further complications. I do think it helped me to have more compassion and to (mostly) be kind to others, and accept differences. I certainly never called anyone “Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion as I was called! Since I have no coordination (I’m beyond terrible at sports, with no depth perception), my passion was books, and I am still to this day a bookworm to the nth degree. (My mom was, too.) It has served me well in learning about others not like me, and I’ve always loved to travel in time and place from the comfort of my home through books! The teachers (and other staff) at Phenix Elementary were incredibly encouraging and supportive, and I believe that, too, was the basis for overcoming difficulties and heartaches that we all experience with life on Planet Earth.

Young Adulthood and Family Life

The 1970s were a pretty wild time in our world and our community, and although I managed to graduate in 1976 with a decent GPA (due to lifelong reading : ) I wouldn’t say I was living up to my potential. It was party time, and dancing at the disco was a priority. As a dear (wise) friend once said: “I wasn’t necessarily the best version of myself in the 1970s!” I did make a lot of wonderful life-long sister-friends then, so there’s that (more about that later). In 1978, after a series of mishaps, I stumbled upon a great job at Penn-Dixie Industries at 13th & Railroad as Secretary to the Plant Manager. My mom was a secretary to the Sales Manager, and my middle brother was an electrician. Soon, a friend introduced me to a mutual friend who worked there too – Steve Coleman. We met at a bar on 5th Street, of course, and proceeded to spend a lot of time and money there. “… and then God …” has always been one of my favorite sayings, as well as “God loves a fool, and I are one!” so it’s no great surprise that we soon were married with 3 kids and a wonderful life, after many challenges and heartaches and setbacks that helped us to grow into the people we were meant to be (for the most part)! Laughter is also some of the best medicine, and we laugh a lot at ourselves and each other. We have been blessed beyond belief, which is not to say there weren’t days/months/years that were/are much more difficult than we’d like. All of those heartaches we all endure are tools in our tool chest to help ourselves and others. Being grandparents now is the joy of our lives, and we also enjoy traveling and honeymooning, which we were never able to do when we were young!

Friendships from Valley Junction

Another important factor in healing and living your best life, in addition to faith and family, is friends. My entire life, I’ve been blessed with amazing friends, starting with Carolyn on 7th Street as toddlers. I don’t want to name names for fear of leaving anyone out, as I’ve more friends than I can count or remember, but I will include a few pics of forever sister-friends (as Rachelle requested : ) who have supported me through thin and thick. To be known and accepted and loved by them throughout life is truly a blessing beyond words … Laughing and Dancing like no one is watching! I am thankful and blessed and hopefully can remember that during the dark times, because we all have dark times … we just have to keep looking up and also looking around us for the love that is the light to keep us going. Thanks to Rachelle and all her family/supporters/helpers for the great celebration that is Taste of the Junction. We all benefit from celebrating what we want to see more of, and this celebration of our community and heritage is a beautiful thing!

Written by Marilyn Septer Coleman

A Legacy of Love 

The Long Family History

Marriage and Family Life

Johnny Long attended West Des Moines schools and went to work at the Marquette Cement Plant in 1951.   He also married Barbara Jean Page that same year.   They lived on 11th Street for most of their 59 years of marriage.   Their nine children included Gerald (Page), Gregory, Stephen, Vicky (Long-Hill), Valerie (James), Rachelle, Darryl, Johnnetta, and Margaret.  In the mid-sixties, after several attempts to purchase a home in the Ridgeway and Fairmeadows additions, they built a new house at their 11th Street location.   Their home became a center of attraction for many of the area’s youth.

Johnny was known by many as “June Bug”.  He worked at the cement plant for 34 years.  Johnny was recognized in the book, “Outside In”, as the first African-American heavy equipment operator in the state of Iowa.  He also became the first African-American foreman of a major company in Iowa.  Barbara worked for the city of Des Moines and the WDM Opportunity Center, where she later became its director.  After retirement, they became dedicated community activists on behalf of the historic Valley Junction.  They were founding members of the Valley Junction Residential Association, where Johnny served as president and later vice-president. Barbara and Johnny were also the chief cornerstone in the creation of the Eddie Davis Community Center.   In 2009, Johnny and Barbara were crowned Iowa’s Juneteenth King and Queen, recognizing their longevity in and years of service to the community.

1951 was a big year for Johnny and Barbara. Johnny had attended West Des Moines schools and went directly to work at the Marquette Cement Plant in 1951. He and Barbara Jean Page married that same year. In fact, they were the best man and bridesmaid to Elliot-Smith ‘s wedding that same weekend. They lived on 11th Street most of their 59 years of married life. Their nine children included Gerald (Page), Gregory, Stephen, Vicky (Long-Hill), Valerie (James), Rachelle, Darryl, Johnnetta, and Margaret. In the mid-sixties, after several attempts to purchase a home in the Ridgeway and Fairmeadows additions, they built a new house at their 11th Street location. Their home became a center of attraction for many of the area’s youth.

The Longs were a friend to the workingman. Johnny, known by many as “June Bug”, worked at the cement plant for 34 years. Johnny was recognized in the book “Outside In” as the first African-American heavy equipment operator in the state of Iowa. He also became the first African-American foreman of a major company in Iowa. Barbara worked for the city of Des Moines and the WDM Opportunity Center, where she later became its director.

They also tried their hand at running a restaurant when they opened a lunch diner in Des Moines called June Bug’s Café. The café allowed Barbara to share delicious recipes, and both appreciated offering employment to those who needed it. During the holidays, Barbara with her daughters and granddaughters would cook and sell scrumptious pies and cakes.

Community, Leadership and Advocacy

In retirement, they became dedicated community activists on behalf of the historic Valley Junction. The Longs advocated on behalf of the residents of the historic Valley Junction district to ensure, enhance, and maintain the same “quality of life” as all others in West Des Moines. As a means to organize and give voice to the community they loved, they were founding members of the Valley Junction Residential Association, where Johnny served as president and later vice-president. They enjoyed personal relationships with the West Des Moines Mayors, City Council, and City Managers. John and Barbara attended all the West Des Moines City Council meetings.

Family Legacy

The Longs loved their community as though it were their family by blood. They saw a great need in the families and knew from the spirit of the community that was used to operating like a family, that social services could be brought directly into the Valley Junction community. Barbara and Johnny were, along with others, the chief cornerstone in the creation of the Eddie Davis Community Center. The community center located on Maple in Valley Junction was named after his grandfather. He began as the general contractor in the renovation of the community center, where he and his son-in-law, Gerald B. James III, tirelessly worked many months towards the completion of the project. Johnny later became the building Supervisor and managed the community service workers. He was loved beyond limits by the young people and others who participated in the program. Barbara, like the neighborhood mother would, worked to fill the hunger, clothing, and childcare needs in the community. Daily, she prepared free meals for lunch and ensured the food pantry and clothing closet were stocked for anyone who needed it. Like their home, the door was open to family. By family, they meant everyone.

In 2009, Johnny and Barbara were crowned Iowa’s Juneteenth King and Queen, recognizing their longevity in and years of service to the community. At the heartbreak of the family and community, Johnny Edward Long, Jr. passed away in 2010. The funeral service was held at Valley Church on Fuller Road with standing room only for four hours. Multiple city officials and clergy wanted to speak on the great honor and service of this great man.

Barbara has continued to work at the community center and can still be found stirring a pot or two on occasion. In 2010, their legacy included 34 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren, that has continued to grow. Their legacy of community service and entrepreneurism flows strongly in the veins of any who call themselves descendants of Johnny and Barbara Long.

The Longs loved their community as though it were their family by blood.