Kenneth Milam

Kenneth Robert Milam, a lifelong Oklahoman and member of the Choctaw Nation, is undeniably known by friends and family as an honest and humble man, a friendly and gentle soul who never took more than he gave. He was a remarkable writer and photographer, as evidenced by his five decades in the field of journalism. A passionate guitarist and composer of several blues songs, he co-founded a band named Crystal Image in the late 60’s which performed across the state as well as a Tulsa TV show called “Dance Party.” 

Born to Cecil Milam and Latisha Overstreet in 1953, he displayed his intelligence and interest in nature during elementary school by winning a state science fair with his entomological study of moths and butterflies. He later attended Northeastern State University where he attained his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. During this time he was the editor in chief of The Northeastern, the student newspaper at NSU, as well as a member of the Pi Delta Epsilon journalistic honor fraternity. 

He started his writing career at the Muskogee Phoenix in the late 70’s, and then wrote for the Tulsa World throughout most of the 80’s. After that he did off and on writing for the Poteau Daily News all the way up until he retired, filling the gaps with freelance writing for a variety of news outlets over the years. He made a substantial contribution to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin during his last decade of professional writing. 

While attending NSU he met his first wife, Cathy McElroy, whom he married in 1976 and with her fathered two children, his son Adam (1983) and daughter Kendal (1985). Kendal gave him his first two grandchildren, Jason (2015) and Ava (2017), and is currently carrying a third child who will be due this year. In 1992 he met his second wife, Tina Malinowski. They married in 1997 and together had two more sons, Eli (1999) and Ian (2001). 

Cremation is under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau, Oklahoma.