Donald H. Miller (Muncie, IN), only son of Eleanor Hunt (BRENDEL) Miller & Hershel Eugene Miller and descendent of several Marion County and Hendricks County, Indiana Pioneer families departed this physical world on Saturday, July 23, 2011, to be with our Heavenly Father and his Son.
Donald grew up on 71st Street in Indianapolis near Dean Road and was a graduate of Broadripple H.S. and Butler University, School of Drama, in Indianapolis. As a child, he spent many days running and playing at the Benton House in Irvington, IN, then the home of his grandparents Isabelle Aurelia (Moore) Miller and Willis Kise Miller.
He pioneered the early days of broadcasting in Indianapolis by working at WISH-TV channel 8, WRTV-TV channel 6 (then call letters WFBM) and WTHR-TV channel 13 (then call letters WLW). Along with Allen W. Clowes(the son of Dr. George H.A. Clowes the innovator for the mass production and marketing of insulin at Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN), Don started a theatre and theatrical production company known as Intro Productions, Inc./Footlight Musicals on Fall Creek Parkway in Indianapolis (circa 1958).
In 1960, Don joined WGN Radio & Television of Chicago along with Allan Hall, (then owned by the Chicago Tribune) as a Floor Director working with Chicago Cubs baseball , Frazier Thomas' "Family Classics," "Bozo Circus," "Ray Raynor & Friends," big band productions and various other live television and radio broadcasts. Don's 20 year relationship continued through 1981 where he retired as Director of On-Air Continuity for all of the daily WGN Radio 720 and WGN TV (channel 9) broadcasts.
Donald departed Chicago for Chattanooga, TN where he pioneered the conversion of WRIP-TV, then a religious broadcast facility in Rossville, GA into a commercial TV station WDSI-TV, Channel 61 (Fox affiliate) of Chattanooga, TN as its Operations Manager. While at WDSI, Don advanced the station's carriage of live Chattanooga Lookouts baseball games, the Chattanooga Riverbend Festival coverage and general programming & promotions.
After retiring from broadcasting, Don enjoyed life in Miami. FL, Savannah, GA, Nashville, IN and Albany/ Muncie, Indiana.
Don leaves behind one son Michael Haydon Miller (wife Kathryn L.) and two loving grandsons Isaac M. and Hayden A. (Albany, IN). Don is preceded in death by one youngest son Brett Warner Miller (infant) and his parents Herschel Eugene Miller and Eleanor Hunt (BRENDEL) Miller.
Funeral arrangements have been made with Meacham Funeral Service of Albany, IN with internment to follow at the family site at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN. No flowers. Donations requested to be sent to Don's favorite charity of The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital a not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3) - Donate By Mail: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA //Donate By Phone 800-805-5856 //website: www.stjude.org .