Colonel Harold Lee Miller (USA, Ret.), 83, passed away on Monday, September 14, 2015, at his home in Dumfries, Virginia surrounded by his family. Born in 1932, he was the son of William Jackson Miller and Jewel McElhannon and was raised in Dierks, Arkansas.
He graduated from Dierks High School in 1950. He was captain of the Dierks Outlaws football team and the valedictorian of his graduating class, following in the footsteps of his sister, Betty Fern, who was valedictorian of the high school in 1947. Growing up in Dierks, Harold enjoyed fishing in Holly Creek, Rock Creek and the Saline River, and worked during high school at Reese’s Grocery and Market on Main Street. He was a member of Holly Creek Baptist Church, where he and Betty Fern sometimes sang duets during services. He lettered in football and basketball in each of three years, was elected captain of the football team in 1949, and elected president of his high school class in each of his four years in high school.
He remembered fondly his teachers at Dierks schools, including his favorite, Stella Wynn, his seventh, eighth, tenth, and eleventh grade teacher. One of his best friends and his brother-in-law, Lloyd Westbrook, attended with him all of their 12 years in Dierks schools. He enjoyed attending his high school class reunions every year at Almosta Ranch Barn.
Harold attended Henderson State University in 1951 and 1952 and graduated with a Bachelor of Letters and Law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1956.
The day Harold received his law degree, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army (Infantry), having completed four years of ROTC. Later he underwent training to become a legal officer in the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He served in the US Army for 30 years. During his distinguished career, Harold rose to the rank of Colonel. He served two tours in Germany, the last as Staff Judge Advocate of the US Army V Corps; one tour in Japan as the Staff Judge Advocate of the US Army Japan IX Corps, where he executed the transfer of criminal jurisdiction from the United States to Japan of Okinawa and the Ryuko Islands; served one year at Chu Lai, Vietnam as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 23d Infantry Division (Americal); and was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1970, and the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, in 1975. Harold was the legal advisor and legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1978 to 1981. He retired in 1986 after serving as Chief of the Army Trial Defense Service. From 1986 – 2002, Harold served as the executive director of the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. He is survived by the former Virginia Louise Jones, his wife of 61 years; his four children, Katharine Miller, Harold Miller, Betty Miller and Jewel Miller; son-in-law, Shawn Gregor; daughter-in-law, Ellen Miller; grandchildren, Grace Miller, Shawn Gregor, Harold Gregor, and Sam Miller. A memorial service will be held in Dierks in October. A graveside service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
