Walter Dale "Walt" Miller (October 5, 1925 – September 28, 2015) was an American politician and member of the Republican Party. He served as the 29thGovernor of South Dakota from 1993 to 1995, having assumed the office upon the death of George S. Mickelson. He was, at age 67 upon taking office, the oldest person to serve as the Governor of South Dakota.[1]
Miller was born in 1925 in the unincorporated community of Viewfield in Meade County, South Dakota near his family ranch, where he lived and worked throughout his life.[2] He attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology but did not graduate. In addition to ranching, Miller was the president of the Dakota National Life Insurance Company from 1970 to 1985.
Careeredit
From 1967 to 1986, Miller served in the South Dakota House of Representatives. From 1975 to 1978, and again in 1986, he served as House Majority Leader. Miller was Speaker of the House in 1981 and 1982. During his legislative tenure, he also served as Speaker Pro Tempore, Assistant Majority Leader, and Majority Whip.[3]
After leaving office, Miller continued to ranch north of New Underwood, on the boundary between Meade and Pennington counties, and resided part-time in Fort Pierre, where he was involved in various lobbying and ranching activities.
In 1943, he married Mary Randall, with whom he had four children: Nancy, Karey, Randy and Renee. Mary died in 1989. In 1993, Miller married Patricia Caldwell, becoming the first governor of South Dakota to marry while in office. He had two stepchildren, Cade and Rebecca.[6] Patricia Caldwell Miller ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for state auditor in 2010. She served as deputy secretary of state, and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for secretary of state in 2014.[7]
Miller died on September 28, 2015, at the age of 89, while visiting Dallas, Texas.[8] He was returned to South Dakota, and buried in Viewfield.
Referencesedit
^"Governor Walter Dale Miller". Trail of Governors. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
^"Walter Dale Miller". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
^Former South Dakota Governor Walter Miller dies at 89 (KSFY-9/29/2015)
^"Walter Dale Miller". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
^"Governor Walter Dale Miller". Trail of Governors. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
^"Governor Walter Dale Miller". Trail of Governors. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
^"Current deputy Pat Miller to run for secretary of state (Argus Leader article-April 3, 2014)". Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
^Former South Dakota Governor Walter Miller dies at 89 (KSFY-9/29/2015)
walter, dale, miller, walter, dale, walt, miller, october, 1925, september, 2015, american, politician, member, republican, party, served, 29th, governor, south, dakota, from, 1993, 1995, having, assumed, office, upon, death, george, mickelson, upon, taking, o. Walter Dale Walt Miller October 5 1925 September 28 2015 was an American politician and member of the Republican Party He served as the 29th Governor of South Dakota from 1993 to 1995 having assumed the office upon the death of George S Mickelson He was at age 67 upon taking office the oldest person to serve as the Governor of South Dakota 1 Walter Dale Miller29th Governor of South DakotaIn office April 19 1993 January 7 1995LieutenantSteve T KirbyPreceded byGeorge S MickelsonSucceeded byBill Janklow34th Lieutenant Governor of South DakotaIn office January 6 1987 April 19 1993GovernorGeorge S MickelsonPreceded byLowell C Hansen IISucceeded bySteve T KirbyMember of the South Dakota House of RepresentativesIn office January 1967 January 6 1987Personal detailsBorn 1925 10 05 October 5 1925Viewfield South Dakota U S DiedSeptember 28 2015 2015 09 28 aged 89 Dallas Texas U S Political partyRepublicanOccupationRancherBusinessman Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksBiography editMiller was born in 1925 in the unincorporated community of Viewfield in Meade County South Dakota near his family ranch where he lived and worked throughout his life 2 He attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology but did not graduate In addition to ranching Miller was the president of the Dakota National Life Insurance Company from 1970 to 1985 Career editFrom 1967 to 1986 Miller served in the South Dakota House of Representatives From 1975 to 1978 and again in 1986 he served as House Majority Leader Miller was Speaker of the House in 1981 and 1982 During his legislative tenure he also served as Speaker Pro Tempore Assistant Majority Leader and Majority Whip 3 In the 1984 presidential election Miller was the state chair of the Reagan Bush campaign and in the 1988 presidential election he was the state co chair of the Bush Quayle campaign Miller served as the 34th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota and its first full time lieutenant governor from 1987 until Governor George S Mickelson s death on April 19 1993 when he assumed the governorship 4 5 Miller lost the 1994 Republican gubernatorial primary to former two term governor Bill Janklow Personal life editAfter leaving office Miller continued to ranch north of New Underwood on the boundary between Meade and Pennington counties and resided part time in Fort Pierre where he was involved in various lobbying and ranching activities In 1943 he married Mary Randall with whom he had four children Nancy Karey Randy and Renee Mary died in 1989 In 1993 Miller married Patricia Caldwell becoming the first governor of South Dakota to marry while in office He had two stepchildren Cade and Rebecca 6 Patricia Caldwell Miller ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for state auditor in 2010 She served as deputy secretary of state and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for secretary of state in 2014 7 Miller died on September 28 2015 at the age of 89 while visiting Dallas Texas 8 He was returned to South Dakota and buried in Viewfield References edit Governor Walter Dale Miller Trail of Governors Retrieved September 6 2012 Walter Dale Miller Soylent Communications Retrieved September 2 2012 Former South Dakota Governor Walter Miller dies at 89 KSFY 9 29 2015 Walter Dale Miller Soylent Communications Retrieved September 2 2012 Governor Walter Dale Miller Trail of Governors Retrieved September 6 2012 Governor Walter Dale Miller Trail of Governors Retrieved September 6 2012 Current deputy Pat Miller to run for secretary of state Argus Leader article April 3 2014 Archived from the original on May 1 2014 Retrieved September 26 2014 Former South Dakota Governor Walter Miller dies at 89 KSFY 9 29 2015 External links editTrail of Governors Governor Walter Dale Miller National Governors Association Appearances on C SPANParty political officesPreceded byLowell C Hansen II Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota1986 1990 Succeeded byCarole HillardPolitical officesPreceded byGeorge S Mickelson Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives1981 1982 Succeeded byJerome B LammersPreceded byLowell C Hansen II Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota1987 1993 Succeeded bySteve T KirbyPreceded byGeorge S Mickelson Governor of South Dakota1993 1995 Succeeded byBill Janklow Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Dale Miller amp oldid 1172173398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
