Romeo Jack Millage celebrates 92nd birthday

Romeo and retired 34-year New York State Trooper Jack Millage of Waverly celebrated his 92nd birthday Tuesday at Athens Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

Romeo Tom McLean reads Jack’s birthday cards while eating delicious chocolate cake. Jack is very proud that he is the 300th birth in 1927 at Robert Packer Hospital. He wonders how many more since then.

Romeo Jack prides himself as being one of the early members of Romeo’s. 

Romeo’s tell stories. Jack’s career kept him mainly on road patrols – local and up to 80 miles away. Then troopers packed their gear in the back seat and responded to a location wherever they were needed. 

In the days of the Apalachin Convention over 60 years ago, he was assigned to watch for large black limousines and check motels for visitors to the historic summit of the American mafia at the hilltop mansion of Joe Barbara on Nov. 14, 1957. 

One of his highlights included meeting and talking to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in Nyack, N.Y., while on security detail during Soviet Premier Nikita Khroschev’s visit to the Security Council in New York. 

Waverly is the home of many State Troopers, Tioga County Judges, a Sheriff and prominent attorneys. On a napkin Romeos recalled and wrote names (some may be inadvertently misses): 

Sixteen State Troopers included Bob Cortright, Bob Lewis, Bob Baker, Ted Wido, Dick Koons. Herm Millage, Mike Conroy, Mike Meyers, Dick Hedges, Jim Sindoni, Ron Standish, Jon Cleveland, Bill Pettit, Al Gowen, Frank Roney, and Ray Ayres, who became Tioga County Sheriff. 

Three Tioga County Judges include the Honorable Francis Clohessy, Andy Siedlecki, and Jerry Keene. 

Eight prominent attorneys, but not a complete list, include William Donnelly, Andy Siedelicki, Jerry Keene – who became Tioga County Judge, Alan Friedlander, Betty Friedlander, Herb Smith, Don Frederick and Todd Miller. Three Waverly Police Chiefs include Lloyd Hedges, Elmer Beers, and Al Button.