Saturday, June 11, 2022
I just found out about Milford’s passing. He was my manager at IRS for many years. In large case and the international exam groups in south jersey, we were the only POCs. He was the only POC large case manager in New Jersey. A unicorn. He was tough, smart, fair and most of all loyal. He managed one of the most accomplished group of agents in NJ. They called his group a super group. He was asked how he could manage a group with so many CPAs and persons with advanced degrees. He replied when you have the horses, you got to let the horses run. He was smart not arrogant. He kept us in line but allowed us the freedom to be creative. So rare. He kept his word always. If he approved you to work on a project, he would protect you from all detractors inside and outside IRS. There is a story about firefighters where one is dangling off a building being held by another. The one dangling tells the other to let him go, save yourself. The reply is, if you go, I go. That’s Milford. He saved my sanity so many times at work. He gave me incredible support and advice. When he retired part of me was hurt. I felt like I was losing my support blanket. There was no one else I could relate to. I was to speak at his retirement but got so choked up I couldn’t. We would travel a lot together. I could tell you so many funny stories about him. A lot centered around food. On a trip to Ohio, we all ordered ribs. When the ribs arrived, he counted everyone’s ribs. It looked like identical portions. He figured out we had 12 ribs and he had 11. He had the waited bring him 1 more rib. He loved bean soup and we would go to a great hole in the wall place to eat soup. He would complain to the waitress if the bowl wasn’t filled completely to the rim. He complained almost every time we went. We would go for soup on Thursdays. I snuck over to the place on Wednesday and gave them a good size mixing bowl. I asked them to serve him soup in the bowl. The entire place was in on the joke. When his soup order came, the place erupted with laughter. Milford didn’t miss a beat. He ate the entire bowl. We all felt sorry for Mary that night. That bowl was on their wall years later. He was a man of great faith. Never pushy about his beliefs. Every night when we traveled, after dinner, he was in his room reading the bible. He lived it, never preachy. I wish I had stayed in closer contact with him after retirement. I saw him on a few fishing trips, a couple of functions and lunch dates. I miss him. I send belated condolences to his family. He was a great man. Joe West
Thomas E. May, Founder 1946-2022