Roderick Luke "Rod" Miller (October 20, 1924 - January 15, 2005) is a Lafayette lawyer and pioneer in Republican development in Louisiana. He is the third Republic since the Reconstruction to be elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the first ever from Lafayette Parish, now one of the parishes that leans Republicans in the state. Miller served half of the legislative term from 1966-1968. He is a member of the Central Committee of the Republican State and the Executive Committee of the Parish of Lafayette Parish. Prior to his death, he had received his party's "Lifetime Service Award".
Miller was born at Reddell in Evangeline Parish to Cleophas Miller (1888-1971), a railroad employee, and former Isabelle Michot (1895-1975). Miller graduated from Vidrine High School at Evangeline Parish and then served in World War II at the Air Force Air Force as a navigator at B-29 Superfortress's. He was reactivated as a lieutenant during the Korean War.
Between the two wars, Miller graduated from an institution now known as Louisiana University in Lafayette (then Southwestern Louisiana Institute) in 1947. He then graduated from Loyola University Law School in New Orleans in 1949.
Video Roderick Miller (politician)
Miller dan Mouton, teman dan saingan politik
Miller practiced law in Lafayette with Charles DeBaillon at the firm of DeBaillon and Miller.
He ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for a judge.
Then Miller switched sides at a time when it was said that GOP, with very few voters under his umbrella, could be caucused in the phone booth. He was elected to Louisiana House in an angry special election on March 22, 1966, to succeed his Democratic friend Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr. (pronounced MOO TAHN), Miller surveyed 9,210 votes (50.2 percent) to Democrat Robohe's Woke "Hook" (pronounced ROW BI SHOW) 9125 ballots (49.8 percent). Margin Miller is 85 votes.
Mouton's representative has been elected to the state senate in a special election previously created by the resignation of state Senator Garland L. Bonin (pronounced BOH NEAN). Miller then served the remaining two-year term of Mouton House. Miller serves in the House of Representatives with three other Republicans, Morley A. Hudson and Taylor W. O'Hearn, both from Shreveport in Caddo Parish, and Edward Clark Gaudin from Baton Rouge.
In 1968, in what turned out to be a real mistake, Miller handed over his home chair to challenge Mouton for a full term in the state senate. Mouton easily won - 57.1 percent of votes to 42.9 percent for Miller. House Miller's chair was also returned to the Democrats. Indeed, as a result of the 1968 election, there was no Republicans in all (DPR or Senate) 144 members of the legislative council.
In 1972, Miller challenged Mouton for re-election of the state senate and lost again. Mouton polled 18,771 votes (62.2 percent) to Miller 11,395 (37.8 percent). In defeat, Miller still ran 8.5 percentage points ahead of Republican Republican candidate David C. Treen at Lafayette Parish.
At a meeting of the Republican Central Committee of the Republic in Baton Rouge held on 5 March 1972, Miller led a small contingent against the re-election of US President Richard M. Nixon, who then faced a small challenge from two US Representatives, John M. Ashbrook of Ohio and Pete McCloskey of California. The central committee swears on a more proactive stance in seeking support from African Americans, blue-collar workers, youth, and the poor. The committee named David Treen as a member of the national committee and retained Jean Boese of Alexandria as a national official.
Mouton served in the state Senate from 1966-1980 and ran for governor, as president of the pro tempore senate, in primary blank nonpartisan primaries in 1979. He finished in sixth place with 124,333 votes (9.1 percent). Although Mouton is regarded as one of the more liberal candidates in the governor's race, he shocks the observers by supporting Republican Treen in the general election. Treen then makes his second governor's bid. After his narrow election, Treen named Mouton as his executive advisor. Mouton replaces Edmund Reggie from Crowley, who is an advisor to the Governor of Edwin Washington Edwards, also from Crowley.
Mouton said that he and Miller "remain close friends" by keeping politics and friendship separate. They were sworn together in 1953 as lawyers 46 and 47 in Lafayette Parish, Mouton said. Both help start Hub City Kiwanis Club, and both are members of the Catholic male organization, Knights of Columbus.
"He's a good guy, he's got high ethics, and he's a good lawyer, his words are his ties, you can trust him completely He leaves a good legacy He will be missed He is one of those who brings Republicans into positions which is feasible in Parish Lafayette, "Mouton said of the death of his friend and former political opponent.
Maps Roderick Miller (politician)
Civil interests
In addition to Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus, Miller is a member of the Carmelite Men Knights, the American Legion, and active in the American Child Scouts. He is a member of Acadiana Barbershop Chorus and Four Fathers Quartet. His interest in French preservation led Miller, a widower, to meet his second wife, Jane Brinkhaus Gaiennie Miller.
He is a member of Christ the King Church in Lafayette. A conservative in both theology and politics, Miller opposed the change in the church after Vatican II and supported priests and bishops who remained faithful to the Mass of Pope Pius V.
Miller's obituary
Miller was preceded by his first wife, Clemencia "Clemy" Clotworthy Miller, the baby girl, Mary Evangeline Miller, and a sister.
In addition to Jane's second wife was born 1946, and son Fr. Francis, Miller survived by four other sons, Thomas Justin Miller (born 1949) from Mandeville in St Tammany Parish, and Kenneth Gerard Miller (born 1951), John Miller, and Normand Cleophas Miller (born 1965), all from Lafayette; three daughters, Mrs. Jeanine Billeaud (born 1957) and husband Bruce Steven Billeaud (born 1951) and Carmel Soileau (born 1963) and her husband Daniel Christopher Soileau (born 1959) (pronounced SWAL LOW), both from Lafayette, and Julie McCarthy (born 1959) John C. McCarthy (born 1953) from Shreveport; three sisters; three brothers; step child; two stepchildren; thirty-three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
The Miller Cemetery is a High Mass Requiem held at the Castille House Chapel in Lafayette on January 18, 2005, conducted by his son, Pastor Francis Miller, with the fathers of Kevin Vaillancourt and George McLaughlin helping. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette.
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Miller's hometown newspaper, Lafayette Daily Advertiser , published this editorial about his death:
"Rod Miller earned a place in Louisiana's political history... He gained a lasting place in the history of Lafayette - and the Republican Party.In 1966, with the Democratic Party completely dominant in this community and across the state, Miller stood for election a member of the State House of Representatives - and won.Never before the Lafayette people had chosen a Republican to serve in that position.
"The victory proves that the Democrat wall can be broken, is a signal event - the first step towards a two-party system and its wide benefits.
"The bold fights for conservative principles such as government intervention are lacking in the lives of citizens and the removal of barriers to economic growth derived from the old Huey P, Jr.," rich soak "political philosophy that marks Miller's term in the legislature. He serves well and honorably in an arena completely controlled by the opposition party.
"After Miller's election and tenure at the office, several years have passed before the Republican spike began in Louisiana and Lafayette.After walking, it grows fast in power and influence. It will be remembered that Miller is responsible for the first gap in Democratic politics stronghold of power in Lafayette and the country from Reconstruction era until recent years.
"He will be remembered for many things - his dedicated involvement in community activities continues throughout his life - but his pioneering work to build a viable two-party system may be the most enduring element of his legacy."
References
- Daily Advertiser of Lafayette , Miller's obituary details, January 17, 2005
- Statement by Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., on the death of Roderick Miller, January 18, 2005
- Daily Advertiser Lafayette , editorial on Roderick Miller's inheritance
- Social Security mortality index
- Lafayette Daily Marketer funeral
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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