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F. Don Miller

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F. Don Miller
Born(1920-04-09)April 9, 1920
Racine, Wisconsin
DiedJanuary 17, 1996(1996-01-17) (aged 75)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Buried
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1969
RankColonel
Battles / warsWorld War II, Korea, Vietnam
AwardsSilver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart

Francis Donald Miller (April 9, 1920 – January 17, 1996) was a United States Army colonel, executive director of the USOC, a national collegiate champion boxer, and U.S. Olympic Boxing Team head coach.

Early life and education

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Miller was born in Racine, Wis on April 9, 1920. He graduated from St. Catherine's High School in 1939 and then earned a physical education degree from the University of Wisconsin.

He won the 1943 national collegiate boxing title while at Wisconsin. He coached the United States boxing teams in the 1951 Pan American Games and 1956 Olympic Games.[1]

Military career

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Earning the rank of second lieutenant in ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin, Miller entered into active service and commissioned as an officer at Fort Benning, Georgia, in April, 1943.[citation needed] During European combat in World War II he served as a company commander for the 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division.[2] On November 24, 1945, he was wounded by enemy fire while leading a 7th Army platoon into the city of Strasbourg, France.[citation needed] Miller received multiple awards for his military career, including a Purple Heart and Silver Star. For his sports career, Miller went to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and was in charge of boxing held at the U.S. Special Services School.[2]

In 1949 he was assigned to the U.S. Army sports and recreation director at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.[citation needed] During the 1950s, Miller worked for the Eighth United States Army as an assistant and the Fourth United States Army as a supervisor.[2] In 1961, he was assigned to the Adjutant General's office at Fort Amador, Panama. Miller was also head of the Army sports programs and a member of the USOC board of directors[1]

Olympics career

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After retiring from the Army, Miller devoted the remainder of his life to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and America's athletes. He served in a variety of positions for the USOC, starting in 1969, when he worked as an assistant executive director and led the fundraising department. In 1973, Miller was named executive director and remained at that position until 1985.[3] During his position, Miller provided athletes with sports medicine and was a National Sports Festival planner.[4] He was President of the U.S. Olympic Foundation from 1985 until his passing in 1996.

Miller received the Knight of Maltain 1965 and the Olympic Order in 1984. The following year, Miller was presented with a Board of Governors' award[5] from the Touchdown Club of Washington.[1] He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sports and Physical Education. Miller also received the Centennial Trophy from the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1995.[6]

Miller was married and had two 2 children.[6]

Awards and recognition

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1965 - Knighted into the Order of Malta

1984 - awarded the IOC Silver Olympic Order[7]

1984 - inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame[8]

1985 - presented the DC Touchdown Club's Board of Governor's Award

1985 - awarded The Olympic & Paralympic Torch Award[9]

1995 - awarded the IOC Centennial Trophy

1997 - F. Don Miller residence hall dedicated at Olympic Training Center

2001 - inducted into the St. Catherine's H.S. Hall of Fame

United States Army Decorations

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Combat Infantryman Badge
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
Army Presidential Unit Citation
World War I Victory Medal
Bronze star
American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
American Campaign Medal
Arrowhead
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
United Nations Korea Medal

References

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  1. ^ a b c Litsky, Frank (1996-01-18). "F. Don Miller, 75, U.S. Olympic Committee Chief". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  2. ^ a b c Trower, Ralph (7 October 1956). "Sports, It's this way..." Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  3. ^ Attner, Paul (June 8, 1977). "'Straight-Shooting' Miller Works Unity Wonders". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "F. Don Miller, Former Head of USOC, Is Dead at 75". Los Angeles Times. 1996-01-18. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  5. ^ "DC Touchdown Club". DC Touchdown Club. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  6. ^ a b By (19 January 1996). "St. Catherine's grad, U.S. Olympic official, dies at 75". Journal Times. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  7. ^ "Olympic awards presented at the 87th IOC Session". Olympic Review. No. 197. March 1984. p. 164. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "F. Don Miller". United States Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Olympic & Paralympic Torch". United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
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