Thomas W . Miller Thomas Woodnutt Miller ( June 26 , 1886 – May 5 , 1973 ) was an American businessman , lawyer and politician , from Wilmington , Delaware , and Reno , Nevada . He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Republican Party , who served as U . S . Representative from Delaware . Early life and family . Miller was born in Wilmington , Delaware , son of Governor Charles R . Miller and Abigail Morgan Woodnutt Miller . He attended the Hotchkiss School and graduated from Yale University in 1908 . He was initially employed as a steel roller by the Bethlehem Steel Company in 1908 and 1909 . Political career . Miller worked as secretary to U . S . Representative William H . Heald from 1910 until 1912 , and during this period studied law in Washington , D . C . . He was appointed by his father , Governor Charles R . Miller , to the position of Delaware Secretary of State from 1913 until 1915 . Miller was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1914 , defeating incumbent Democratic U . S . Representative Franklin Brockson . During this term , he served in the Republican minority in the 64th Congress . Seeking reelection in 1916 , he lost to Democrat Albert F . Polk , a lawyer from Georgetown . Miller served from March 4 , 1915 , until March 3 , 1917 , during the administration of U . S . President Woodrow Wilson . Military career . When the United States entered World War I in 1917 , Miller enlisted as a private in the Infantry of the United States Army , and served in France with the Seventy - ninth Division . He was cited by General John Pershing for " especially meritorious and conspicuous service " in the Meuse - Argonne campaign and awarded the Purple Heart for his service . For this he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel , and served until discharged in September 1919 . Miller was a founder and incorporator of the American Legion and vice chairman of the Paris caucus in March 1919 . He was also Alien Property Custodian from 1921 until 1925 and a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission from 1923 until 1926 . Later life . Miller served in the administration of United States President Warren G . Harding , but was convicted in 1927 of conspiring to defraud the U . S . government . The conviction concerned Miller ' s service as Alien Property Custodian . He served 18 months in prison . He was paroled in 1929 and pardoned by United States President Herbert Hoover in 1933 . At this point Miller moved to Reno , Nevada , where he would spend the rest of his life . There he became the founder of Nevada State parks system and served as chairman of the Nevada State Park Commission in 1935 , 1936 , from 1953 – 1959 , and from 1967 - 1973 . He also continued his activity in veteran ’ s affairs as staff field representative of the United States Veterans ' Employment Service from 1945 until 1957 . Death and legacy . Miller died in Reno , Nevada , and is buried in the Masonic Memorial Gardens in Reno . His nephew , Clement W . Miller was a U . S . Representative from California from 1959 until 1962 . Almanac . Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1 . U . S . Representatives took office March 4 and have a two - year term .