Former Eastern President Dies
(Press Release 4-26-04)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

“Eastern Oklahoma State College mourns the loss of a great Eastern supporter,” Eastern President Dr. Richard Bernard said upon learning of the loss of Eastern’s fourteenth president Dr. James M. Miller who passed away Friday (April 23).

“Miller had been an advocate of higher education for more than 45 years,” Bernard said. “He has remained an enthusiast, not only for Eastern but also all of higher education and its important roll as an economic development agent for the state.”

Miller was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame, Oct. 8, 2002, to commemorate his service to Oklahoma higher education.

He served as the 14th president of Eastern from 1970 until 1986 when Dr. Bill H. Hill became Eastern’s president.

Under Miller’s leadership Eastern more than doubled its enrollment and added 14 new academic programs and three buildings to the Wilburton campus. Miller had been an administrator at Oklahoma State University for 22 years before coming to Eastern. He served 41 years in higher education before retiring as Eastern’s president.

He also served as an officer in the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard and retired as a colonel after 36 years of military service.

He and his wife Nancy lived in McAlester.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma Church of Christ Church, 1700 S. Main, McAlester.