Richard P. Miller Jr., also known as Dick Miller, was an American business executive, academic administrator, and politician. He served as 9th president of Hartwick College from 2003 to 2008, and as mayor of

Oneonta, New York Oneonta ( ) is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, United States. It is one of the northernmost cities of the Appalachian Region. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Oneonta had a population of 13,079. Its nickname is "City of the Hil ...

from 2010 until his death in 2014.

Early life and education

Miller grew up in Pittsford, New York, a suburb of Rochester. His father, Richard P. Miller Sr., was chief executive of the Rochester Community Chest, precursor of the United Way. After high school, Miller attended

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was the first operating college or university in Vermont. The college currently enrolls 2,858 undergraduates from all ...

Military service

From 1965 to 1967, Miller served in the U.S. Army, First Cavalry Division (Airmobile), attaining the rank of first lieutenant. As a forward observer in the artillery, he participated in action in the Ia Drang Valley, near Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam.

Professional and political career

Miller joined Case-Hoyt, a commercial printing company, as a sales representative in 1967. By 1982, he was the President and CEO of the company. Miller held a variety of positions at the

University of Rochester The University of Rochester (U of R, UR, or U of Rochester) is a private research university in Rochester, New York. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The University of Roc ...

and eventually served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the university from 1996 to 2000. He was a trustee of

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hobart and William Smith Colleges are Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts colleges in Geneva, New York. They trace their origins to Geneva Academy established in 1797. Students can choose from 45 maj ...

, and served as the vice chancellor and chief operating officer of the

State University of New York The State University of New York (SUNY, , ) is a system of public colleges and universities in the State of New York. It is one of the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States. Led by c ...

. On May 2, 2003, the Hartwick College Board of Trustees announced that they unanimously endorsed Miller to become the next president of Hartwick College. During his time as president of Hartwick College, enrollment and endowment went up. On May 10, 2009, Miller announced his intentions to run for mayor of Oneonta. A political Independent, he sought endorsements from all of the city's political parties to go along with his 'Collaborate for Oneonta' ballot line. Despite being a co-chairman for Republican state senator James Seward's reelection campaign in 2008, the city's Republican committee declined to endorse Miller and also declined him the chance to force a primary. The county Democratic committee allowed him to run in their primary, where he won with 77 percent of the vote. He raised over $11,000 for his campaign and won. Miller ran for reelection unopposed in 2013.

Personal life and death

Miller married his first wife, Barbara, upon graduating college in 1965. The couple had two children. The couple split and Miller married a woman named Andi and lived in a renovated fraternity house with her three children until his death. On October 25, 2014, Miller committed suicide in his garage. Otsego County Coroner James Hurley said the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot to the head from a .22-caliber handgun. The death was considered unexpected and shocking.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Richard P. Jr. 2014 deaths Middlebury College alumni Heads of universities and colleges in the United States American academic administrators 21st-century American politicians Suicides by firearm in New York (state)