George_P._Miller

George P. Miller

George P. Miller

American politician (1891–1982)

Not to be confused with California State Senator George Miller Jr. or U.S. Representative George Miller.
"George Paul Miller" redirects here. For the state senator, see George Paul Miller (Wisconsin politician).

George Paul Miller (January 15, 1891 – December 29, 1982) was an American veteran of World War I who served 14 terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1945 to 1973.

Quick Facts Chair of the House Science Committee, Preceded by ...
During a 1968 visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center, the House Committee on Science and Astronautics toured the S-IVB workshop. Pictured here are Wernher von Braun (standing) and Congressman Miller (sitting on the ergometer bicycle) inside the workshop.

Early life

George Paul Miller was born in San Francisco, on January 15, 1891.[1] His father was a dredger captain on the Sacramento River.[2] Miller attended public and private schools. He graduated from Saint Mary's College of California in 1912 with a degree in civil engineering.[1][2][3]

Career

Early career

Miller worked as a civil engineer from 1912 to 1917. During the First World War, he served as a lieutenant in the 36th Infantry Division and 346th Field Artillery from 1917 to 1919. After serving as member of the United States Veterans' Bureau from 1921 to 1925, Miller resumed activities as a civil engineer. He was also co-owner of a travel agency in San Francisco, but it failed during the Great Depression.[1][2] He was a street sweeper in Alameda during the depression.[2]

Political career

He volunteered in the drive to repeal Prohibition and was elected president of the Alameda County Non-partisan League, a group advocating for the consolidation of Oakland County and Alameda County after the formation of San Francisco's government.[3] He then served as member of the California State Assembly from 1937 to 1941.[1] Miller then ran for a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, but was unsuccessful.[3] He was executive secretary to the California Division of Fish and Game from 1942 to 1944.[1][3]

Representative Miller and other members of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics visited the Marshall Space Flight Center on January 3, 1962, to gather firsthand information of the nation’s space exploration program.

Miller was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1973). He served as chairman of the Oceanography Committee, a subcommittee of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.[2] He later served as chairman of the Committee on Science and Astronautics (Eighty-seventh through Ninety-second Congresses), after the death of Overton Brooks in 1961.[1][2] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1972 to the Ninety-third Congress,[1] defeated in the Democratic primary by Pete Stark.[3]

He was an early supporter for the development of solar power systems.[3]

Personal life

Miller married Esther M. Perkins of Overton, Nebraska, in 1927. They had one daughter: Ann.[2][3]

Death

Miller was a resident of Alameda, California, until his death there on December 29, 1982. He was interred in San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio of San Francisco, California.[1]

Legacy

The George Miller Memorial Scholarship at Saint Mary's College and the George P. Miller Fund for Special Education at the Alameda Unified School District were established in his honor.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    "Miller, George Paul". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Science Leader in House: George Paul Miller". New York Times. March 23, 1962. p. 16. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  3. [3]
    "George P. Miller". San Francisco Examiner. January 2, 1983. p. B7. Retrieved August 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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