859.255.6676  [email protected]

This is an advertisement.

Attorneys » Harry B. Miller Jr (1924-2013)

Harry B. Miller Jr (1924-2013)

January 4, 1924 - November 11, 2013 Harry B. Miller, Jr. was the senior member of Miller, Griffin & Marks at the time of his passing in 2013. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1948, where he was the Managing Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal, and received honors including Order of the Coif. Harry was a Fellow of the American Bar Association and one of the original members of the American Trial Lawyers Association. Harry concentrated his practice in the areas of litigation, equine law, and domestic relations. Obituary LEXINGTON - Miller, Harry B. Jr., a Lexington attorney who represented movie stars, business leaders and some of the biggest names in the horse industry, died Monday at home after a short illness. He was 89. Miller was born on Jan. 4, 1924, in Lexington and was reared by his mother Ann and stepfather Circuit Judge Jack Winn in Mt. Sterling where Miller was a star athlete in football and basketball for Mt. Sterling High School. While attending the University of Kentucky he enlisted in the Army in 1942. He served in the 701st Military Police Battalion stateside for the duration of the war. He was discharged as a captain nearly four years later. He then served in the reserves for 11 years, obtaining the rank of major. After he was discharged from the Army, Miller skipped the rest of college and entered UK College of Law, where he was an Order of the Coif graduate of UK in 1948. During his career, Miller was honored as a Fellow in the American Bar Association, which is bestowed on only one-third of one percent of all the state's lawyers. In 2007, the Fayette County Bar Association honored him with the Harry T. Duncan Award for integrity and leadership, the association's most prestigious award. In 2009, he was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Law's Hall of Fame. Following law school, he joined the law firm of firm of Brown & Miller with his father Harry Sr. and John Y. Brown Sr., father of former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. He later formed the law firm of Miller, Griffin & Marks where some of Kentucky's top lawyers got their start, including former Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert F. Stephens. His grandson, Elliott Miller, recently because a partner in the firm - the fourth generation to do so. Among his clients were thoroughbred owners Mary Lou and C.V. "Sonny" Whitney, and Leslie Combs of Spendthrift Farm, and standardbred owner Fred Van Lennep. Because of his experience in horse law, he also represented actor William Shatner. He also served as president of The Red Mile for seven years. Miller and his wife Pat, who died in 1997 after 50 years of marriage, were well known for their hospitality and generosity. Their home on South Ashland Ave. became a refuge for many of their children's friends. Miller was also very active in Democratic politics and served as treasurer of the state Democratic Party for eight years. He was a top adviser to Govs. Bert Combs and Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt and was hired by Gov. Julian Carroll to handle all the legal appeals over eliminating bail bondsmen in Kentucky. In 1960 he escorted then Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy during his campaign visit to Kentucky. Kennedy later offered Miller the position as head of the Justice Department's criminal division. Miller declined. Miller was also a close confidante and recruiter for legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, who used to joke that Miller was his best recruiter because every player he courted ended up going to another team and turned out to be terrible. But he did have one great success for UK basketball. When assistant basketball coach Joe B. Hall left to coach at St. Louis University, then changed his mind, Miller negotiated Hall's release from the contract so he could return to Kentucky. After he retired, Miller enjoyed hours of playing bridge, poker and gin rummy with his friends and following his grandchildren's athletic exploits. He is survived by a daughter, Robin Downing (Robert) of Lexington; and three sons, Tom Miller (Cathy) and John Winn Miller (Margo) of Lexington, and Harry B. Miller III (Nancy) of Los Angeles; six grandchildren, Blake Miller, Elliott Miller (Alison), Griffin Miller, Winn Miller, Cole Furfaro-Strode (Dawn) and Allison Miller-Nee (Adam); and one great-granddaughter Amaya Furfaro-Strode. There will be a private burial Saturday (Nov. 16). A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, followed by a gathering for family and friends at 12:30 p.m. at the Woodlands at the corner of East Main St. and Woodland Ave. Pallbearers will be grandsons Blake, Elliott, Griffin and Winn Miller; grandson Cole Furfaro-Strode; and cousin Jonathan Miller. Honorary pallbearers are Warren W. Rosenthal, Tom Underwood, Dan Robinette, Marty Solomon, Jouett McDowell, Jay Spurrier, Larry Conley, Rick Stoll, Jack Miller, Adam Miller, Sam Brown and Dr. Jim Borders. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to the First Presbyterian Endowment, 171 Market St., Lexington, KY, 40507; God's Pantry, 1685 Jaggie Fox Way, Lexington, Ky. 40511, or; the Salvation Army, 736 W. Main S., Lexington, Ky. 40508.

Related Items

No Related Items