# F. Don Miller

Francis Donald Miller (April 9, 1920 – January 17, 1996) was a United States Army colonel, executive director of the USOC, a national collegiate champion boxer, and U.S. Olympic Boxing Team head coach.

## Early life and education

Miller was born in Racine, Wis on April 9, 1920. He graduated from St. Catherine's High School in 1939 and then earned a physical education degree from the University of Wisconsin.
He won the 1943 national collegiate boxing title while at Wisconsin. He coached the United States boxing teams in the 1951 Pan American Games and 1956 Olympic Games.

## Military career

Earning the rank of second lieutenant in ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin, Miller entered into active service and commissioned as an officer at Fort Benning, Georgia, in April, 1943. During European combat in World War II he served as a company commander for the 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division. On November 24, 1945, he was wounded by enemy fire while leading a 7th Army platoon into the city of Strasbourg, France. Miller received multiple awards for his military career, including a Purple Heart and Silver Star. For his sports career, Miller went to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and was in charge of boxing held at the U.S. Special Services School.
In 1949 he was assigned to the U.S. Army sports and recreation director at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. During the 1950s, Miller worked for the Eighth United States Army as an assistant and the Fourth United States Army as a supervisor. In 1961, he was assigned to the Adjutant General's office at Fort Amador, Panama. Miller was also head of the Army sports programs and a member of the USOC board of directors

## Olympics career

After retiring from the Army, Miller devoted the remainder of his life to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and America's athletes. He served in a variety of positions for the USOC, starting in 1969, when he worked as an assistant executive director and led the fundraising department. In 1973, Miller was named executive director and remained at that position until 1985. During his position, Miller provided athletes with sports medicine and was a National Sports Festival planner. He was President of the U.S. Olympic Foundation from 1985 until his passing in 1996.
Miller received the Knight of Maltain 1965 and the Olympic Order in 1984. The following year, Miller was presented with a Board of Governors' award from the Touchdown Club of Washington. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sports and Physical Education. Miller also received the Centennial Trophy from the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1995.
Miller was married and had two 2 children.

## Awards and recognition

1965 - Knighted into the Order of Malta
1984 - awarded the IOC Silver Olympic Order
1984 - inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
1985 - presented the DC Touchdown Club's Board of Governor's Award
1985 - awarded The Olympic & Paralympic Torch Award
1995 - awarded the IOC Centennial Trophy
1997 - F. Don Miller residence hall dedicated at Olympic Training Center
2001 - inducted into the St. Catherine's H.S. Hall of Fame

### United States Army Decorations

* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Army Distinguished Service Medal
* Silver Star
* Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
* Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
* Army Presidential Unit Citation
* World War I Victory Medal
* American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
* American Campaign Medal
* European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* Army of Occupation Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* United Nations Korea Medal