George Miller

Center (1946-47)

George Miller grew up in Lakeland, Florida, where he attended high school and lettered in football and baseball. He was co-captain of the football team his senior year. After graduation, George served in the U.S. Navy for 1 1/2 years. In 1946, his high school coaches, who had coached in Tulsa, suggested he go to the University of Tulsa. He and Marvin Brice, also from Lakeland, hitchhiked to Oklahoma. Being smaller than most of the other players, TU coaches suggested they attend a community college and said Kilgore, Texas, and Coffeyville, Kansas, were good choices. Since Kilgore was 550 miles away and Coffeyville 75 miles, they chose to hitchhike to Coffeyville.

They arrived in Coffeyville, and Demp Cannon, Dink Littrell and Cliff Long were the football coaches at that time. Football had not been played since 1942, and equipment was scarce. There was a shortage of football shoes, so Coach Cannon had leather cleats nailed to army brogans.

During the first few weeks of school, George met Reba Ellison.  They married after graduation and moved to Wichita, where George attended the University of Wichita, now Wichita State. He played center and end for the Shockers, graduating in 1950.  He then went to Ellinwood, Kansas, and was a high school assistant coach.

In 1953, George moved back to Lakeland and worked in the construction business. In 1960, he started his own construction company - Milco Construction, Inc. George and Reba have four children - Janey, David, Nancy and Jeff. He is now retired, but still goes to the office every morning when he’s in Lakeland. He also maintains a home on the river in Homosassa, Florida, and he and his children own the farm where Reba was raised, near Dearing, Kansas. The Millers have been married sixty years.

George passed away on March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla.