William Milam, Jr. Honored As Drum Major For Justice

PARIS — William Milam, Jr., affectionately known as Junior, was the recipient of the Drum Major for Justice on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Currently employed as foreman/supervisor with West Tennessee Public Utilities, the 1985 Henry County High School graduate retired in 2005 after a 21-year career with the U.S. Army and Tennessee National Guard.

The retired US Army Master Sergeant was awarded the Bronze Star, among other honors, after serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom III.

A local, state and national member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he was honored as the Henry County Veteran of the Year in November 2023.

In Henry, Tenn., he is an active board member of Mary’s Kids, a non-profit that seeks to brighten the Christmases of Henry School children each year. He is also a former Henry City Alderman, a current member of the Henry County Airport Board and a McKenzie Rotary Club member.

He volunteers with Henry County Helping Hand, the Community Action Network, the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and is chairman of Boy Scouts of America Troop 423. He was the former commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4939 in McKenzie.

Milam began by thanking his wife of 38 years, Ella Milam, along with his family and friends.

In his brief remarks, Milam urged the crowd to give back however they could.

“We all must do community service,” he said. “If you don’t have the resources to help them, find the resources to help them. If you see someone having a bad day, just depressed (and) down and out — this is something my wife always says — say something nice to them,’” he said. “And always smile.”