Pokin Around: Here's your 2019 Guide to the Matt Millers of Springfield, Missouri
Steve PokinCorrection: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the recognition Matthew Max Miller, also known as "Drury Matt," received from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He was given a Filbert Five award.
Consider this your "Springfield Guide to Matt Millers."
I've been at the News-Leader seven years, and over that time I've talked to a couple of these news-making Matt Millers.
But honestly, in hindsight, I couldn't tell you which was which. That's why I've compiled this guide: so you don't have to suffer the same confusion.
In 2014, I talked to a Matt Miller who is good friends with Doug Pitt. They both graduated from Kickapoo High in 1985. At the time, I was writing a profile of Pitt.
The Matthew Miller I interviewed by phone provided me with the money quote of my story — the quote that became the headline.
He said this of Pitt: "If he ends up in a situation when there is a wrong being done — even if it's a random situation where it's being done to someone else — he is the guy who will step in."
But until I researched this story, I would have been unable to tell you which Matt Miller said that.
Similarly, it was hard to tell which Matt Miller is the head of Vecino Group, a company that has overseen several affordable housing development projects in downtown Springfield.
A third Matt Miller was a legendary basketball player at Drury University.
This is all so confusing because all three of these Matt Millers work in real estate development.
In fact, the first two for a while worked together in a company named — appropriately enough — The Matt Miller Company.
Why would you go into business with someone with the same name? Isn't that confusing?
“I have noticed that, Steve," says Matt Miller, Doug Pitt's friend. "Thanks for pointing that out."
"It was confusing then," says Matt Miller's former business partner, Matt Miller. "And it is confusing today."
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Of course, this confusion is old news to these Matt Millers. It's been going on for years.
Now that I've delved into it, it's even more confusing than I thought.
You would think that the Matt Miller called "Tall Matt" would also be the basketball legend "Drury Matt," right?
Wrong. The basketball legend "Drury Matt" is 6-foot-1. He is also "3M Matt" because his middle name is Max.
Also, I started this endeavor focusing on the three Matt Millers most often in the news — the three real estate developers.
But I soon learned there is also a "Matt Miller" attorney in town, too.
I was inclined to exclude him because his name is actually James Matthew Miller.
But then I learned that one of the three real-estate Matt Millers is actually a James Matthew Miller, as well.
But both have been known as "Matt Miller" all their lives.
My decision ultimately came down to this: When "Lawyer Matt" took my phone call, he responded with, "Matt Miller here."
For the record, I plugged the name "Matthew Miller" and the hometown of Springfield, Missouri, into a public records database called Nexis. I got 25 hits.
I will include only four — the ones we most often write about here at the News-Leader.
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Matthew Edwin Miller, 52, also known as "Tall Matt"
Tall Matt is 6 feet 6½ inches tall.
I ask: Are you the Matt Miller who is friends with Doug Pitt?
"It depends on what he's done," he says.
Tall Matt is on the board of Care to Learn, a nonprofit formed by Pitt.
At Kickapoo, Tall Matt played football; he was an offensive lineman. He then attended Southwest Missouri State.
“I went there for a long time. I got sidetracked and got married in 1990, instead.”
Tall Matt is a real estate developer. His company is Miller Commerce, at 431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 105 in Wilhoit Plaza.
Years ago, Tall Matt teamed with "Red Matt" — we'll get to Red Matt shortly — and Jeff Schrag, owner of Mother's Brewing Co., to renovate several historic buildings in downtown Springfield, including the Wilhoit building where Miller Commerce is located.
Tall Matt's projects include Brick City, in which he worked with Missouri State University; Founders Park Lofts; Walnut Quads apartments; Monroe apartments, which was sold to MSU; Deep Elm apartments; the Jefferson apartments; the Qube apartments; and Pad Madison apartments.
"I was fortunate in that I was the first to develop the by-the-bed student housing concept," he says.
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Now, he is focused on the senior housing market.
"The next frontier," he says.
One of his projects is the Tera Vera apartment homes for those 55 and older.
I asked all four Matt Millers the same three questions to help differentiate them:
Can you dunk a basketball?
"Back in the day, I could," says Tall Matt. "I don't think I could now. Not at 52."
Your favorite sports team?
"I'm not a big sports guy. I'll go with the Chiefs. Those are the only games I will go to. I go for the tailgating."
Favorite band or recording artist?
James Matthew Miller, 51, commonly known as "Matt Miller," also known as "Red Matt"
He is "Red Matt" because he has red hair.
Red Matt graduated in 1986 from Glendale High School, where he started on a basketball team that made the state playoffs.
He is 6-foot-1½.
Years after high school, he remembers someone coming up to him in downtown Springfield and asking:
"Are you Matt Miller?"
Yes.
"The basketball player?"
Yes.
"I was thinking this guy must really know his high school basketball. Then, a few minutes later I realized he probably thought I was Drury Matt."
Red Matt went to the University of Missouri, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Russian Area Studies and political science.
"I was interested in politics for a while. I worked on the Jack Danforth campaign."
Danforth, a Republican, is a former U.S. Senator from Missouri.
Red Matt turned his sights to real estate development. He worked with Tall Matt for a while.
In 2011, Red Matt formed the Vecino Group with his wife, former News-Leader reporter Stacy Jurado. The third partner is Kim Buche. Rick Manzardo has become the fourth.
"Vecino" is Spanish for "neighbor." The company's goal is to build affordable housing for the greater good. The company often works with public entities, such as Missouri State.
The company has two offices in Springfield: 305 W. Commercial St. and 444 S. Campbell Ave.
It has 75 employees with projects in 12 states.
They include Sky Eleven, The U, Sterling apartments and Cresco apartments — all are downtown and marketed toward college students — as well as working with MSU within the downtown area known as IDEA Commons.
The three questions:
Can you dunk a basketball?
"Not now. I've had one clean dunk in my life. It was at an AAU practice. I was playing with guys who were a lot better than me and I think that's what got my hops up."
Your favorite sports team?
Missouri Tigers football.
Favorite band or recording artist?
Tom Waits.
Matthew Max Miller, 40, also known as "Drury Matt" or "3M Matt"
"Drury Matt" is fourth on the all-time scoring list in Drury men's basketball with 2,024 points. His No. 22 is retired.
He is 6-foot-1 and was a prolific scorer on the Parkview High School team.
In fact, Drury Matt held the Springfield Public Schools boys basketball career scoring record from 1997 to 2012, when Dorial Green-Beckham broke it.
Drury Matt graduated from Drury in 2001 and received an MBA from Drury in 2003.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 recognized him with a Filbert Five award for his contributions to the sport of basketball.
"I went to work driving a tractor and spreading gravel for what was then Morelock-Ross Builders," he says. "I was thinking I might want to be a home builder.
"Wayne Morelock told me that I probably should get my real estate license."
He did, and he went to work for Murney Associates.
At Murney, he met John Schnoebelen.
"He was my mentor in commercial real estate and is one of the smartest people I have met," Drury Matt says.
Through Schnoebelen, Drury Matt met Tall Matt and Red Matt.
Miller then worked at Drury University for about five years, leaving his position as executive director of athletics administration at the start of 2014.
He returned to real estate and was part of a partnership group that in 2017 purchased the former Missouri Hotel. It was built in 1927 and for 30 years served as a homeless shelter at 420 E. Commercial St.
Drury Matt also served as broker in the purchase.
“Shortly after we dug in and got started, my daughter, who was 7 months old, got diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.
“I sold my partnership share back to the group.”
After two surgeries and 42 weeks of chemotherapy, Lucille Rose Miller, now 2, is in good health.
"Praise God," he says.
Last month he started a new job as the principal broker for the Closers Agency, which is within Keller Williams Realty.
The three questions:
Can you dunk a basketball?
"At present, absolutely not. But believe it or not, many years ago I could."
Your favorite sports team?
The Drury Panthers.
Favorite band or recording artist?
"I cannot possibly answer that. I have over 500 albums."
OK, favorite movie?
"Anything directed by Wes Anderson. Maybe 'Rushmore.'"
James Matthew Miller, 44, commonly called "Matt Miller," henceforth known as "Lawyer Matt"
Are people confused about which Matt Miller you are?
"Every once in a while, someone will call up and ask if I am renting an apartment," he says.
He graduated from Glendale High in 1993 and graduated from the University of Missouri and then the University of Missouri Law School.
Lawyer Matt has been with the Baird Lightner Millsap law firm since 2001.
On social occasions, he has met Red Matt and Drury Matt. He does not think he has met Tall Matt.
Now, the three questions.
Can you dunk a basketball?
"Actually I'm pretty tall, 6-foot-3. Back in college I could."
Favorite sports team?
"Missouri Tigers football."
Favorite band or recording artist?
"Paul Simon."
These are the views of News-Leader columnist Steve Pokin, who has been at the paper seven years, and over his career has covered everything from courts and cops to features and fitness. He can be reached at 417-836-1253, spokin@gannett.com, on Twitter @stevepokinNL or by mail at 651 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65806.