VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) 1983-84 chairman George C. Miller Jr., 87, passed away on April 30 at his summer home in Virginia Beach, Va., following a brief illness, the association said.
Miller served as chairman of Miller Enterprises Inc., which was founded in 1922 in Crescent City, Fla., by his father, George C. Miller Sr. The company eventually grew to 150 Handy Way and SuperValu stores, 12 Miller's Supermarkets, one of the country's largest privately held petroleum distributorships and an ice plant. Miller retired from the company in 1983, [image-nocss] turning the company over to his son Tom. The company was sold in 1999.
As NACS chairman, Miller oversaw the explosive growth of the NACS Show, which more than doubled its highest previous attendance in 1984, drawing 6,994 attendees to Los Angeles. In addition, the size of the exposition topped 100,000 net square feet for the first time, shattering the previous best of 56,000 net square feet.
Miller majored in accounting at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, but during his junior year, left school on the morning of Dec. 8, 1941, to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945 and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After discharge from active duty, he remained in the Naval Reserve and was commissioned an ensign. In 1987, Miller was awarded the only honorary bachelor's degree in business administration ever awarded by that university. He also was named a distinguished alumnus of the university.
Under Miller's leadership the small, hometown grocery store that his father founded became Miller Enterprises Inc., with 2,500 employees throughout North and Central Florida.
In addition to his involvement with NACS, Miller served as chairman of Certified Grocers of Florida Inc., a retailer-owned grocery cooperative, and was president of the Retail Grocers Association of Florida. He was active in his community, serving on the Putnam County School Board, Crescent City Commission, Crescent City Rotary Club, Bethune-Cookman College Board of Trustees, The Bolles School of Trustees, the Chamber of Commerce and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Miller is survived by his present wife, Irene P. Miller; sons George C. 'Skip' Miller III, Thomas A. Miller, Daniel L. Miller and Joseph E. Miller; daughters Susan E. Miller and Deborah England; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
CSP sends condolences to his family, his friends and his colleagues.
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