Miller sworn in again as Holmes County coroner
Dr. Leon Miller, right, is sworn in as the Holmes County coroner by Commissioner Dave Hall. Miller has served as coroner for years and expressed his thanks to the many people in the county who work alongside him.
While it may be a somewhat thankless job, Dr. Leon Miller said serving as the Holmes County coroner is a privilege he believes is of vital importance and one he takes very seriously.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, Miller took the oath of office as the 2025 Holmes County coroner by Commissioner Dave Hall.
After taking the oath, Miller spoke about the role and the many people involved in connection with the coroner’s office.
Miller has been serving in this role for several years, and with the assistance of Dr. Zachary Boyd, they have been fulfilling all the necessary duties with aplomb.
“This is a job we take seriously,” Miller said. “It’s an opportunity to serve, and I realize that many of you people in this (commissioner’s meeting room) wouldn’t be meeting like this if you weren’t here to serve because it is work, and it’s a privilege to work here in Holmes County.”
Miller said after assisting the former coroner for many years before taking on the role, he realizes how much the position has changed over the years with an increase in the knowledge and responsibility.
He was quick to praise the work of the Holmes County Sheriff’s officers. He said in comparing their work with other small rural communities and counties, it is as good as any.
“We’ve got a superb team there that Sheriff Zimmerly supervises, and there are a number of people there who are excellent to work with. We also have great squad workers, and even the funeral home directors here are good to work with.”
Miller said he has worked with squads in other communities and larger cities, and he said squad personnel in Holmes County is qualified, courteous and has the finest work ethic of anywhere he has been.
“We have squads here with a work ethic and common sense,” Miller said.
He said the coroner’s job and all the jobs associated with it take time to do well, and everyone involved takes time to make sure they do things correctly.
Miller said the past number of years have been particularly filled with more fatalities and more violent deaths, in a time he dubbed the “season of death.”
Another point Miller made is Holmes County, like the rest of the nation, is facing a shortage of physicians, and he credited Boyd for his willingness to step into an assisting role.
“People are waiting longer to see physicians. We’ve had a shortage of surgeons ever since 2012,” Miller said. “And it’s hard to recruit to a small rural area.”
As for his pay as coroner, which is considered a part-time job, Miller said funding for coroners has remained static in Ohio for many years, and a recent proposed cost-of-living increase was voted down by the state legislature.
Miller said that is due to the increased push for a centralized government, but he said that would be detrimental to a place like Holmes County because it is a very different atmosphere than larger cities.
Hall thanked Miller for his service, noting his professionalism and dedication to the job have been exemplary.