Merle H. Miller Sr.

Merle Hamilton Miller Birth: 12 Jan 1904 Middletown, Henry County, Indiana Death: 8 Jan 1997 Indianapolis, Marion, IN, Burial JAN 11,1997 Crown Hill Cemetery son of Clarence Harve "Hamilton" Miller amd Laura Clark Carnefix

lawyer was with the firm of Ice Miller of Indianapolis

Interviewee: Miller, Merle H.
Call number: 80-039
Date(s) of Interview: May 30, 1980
Physical Description: 19 pp.; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; no index
Physical Location: Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 126 and 128. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Bryan Hall 201. For other locations housing the interviews from this project please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office.
Access Status: Open
Interviewer: Hartzer, Ronald B.

Merle H. Miller, born in January of 1904, discusses his commitment to the protection of every citizen's civil liberties and his association with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union. He comments on the controversy surrounding the building of the Indianapolis War Memorial, the ICLU's views on communists, and the general public's perception of civil liberties unions.

THE ALI REPORTER Winter 2002 - In Memoriam....Elected...Life...Merle H. Miller, Indianapolis, Ind...

MERLE H. MILLER, PROMINENT ATTORNEY

Merle H. Miller, 92, Indianapolis, an attorney and civic leader, died Jan. 8.
Along with Harry Ice, Mr. Miller founded the law firm now known as Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan in 1939. He lectured and specialized in tax law, advising the Indiana General Assembly on tax policy and taking tax cases to trial in state and federal court. He retired in 1974.

In 1964, Mr. Miller was the Indiana chairman of a group of lawyers backing the Democratic presidential ticket. Four years later, he headed the Indiana committee for Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign.

A member of numerous civic organizations, Mr. Miller was past president of the board of directors of Cerebral Palsy of Indiana and had been active in the United Negro College Fund and the Indiana Civil Liberties Union.

He had also been president of the Central Indiana Council, Boy Scouts of America and president of the Marion County Unit of the American Cancer Society. A member of the American and Indianapolis Bar associations, he was a founder of the Indiana Lawyers Commission in 1973 and served as president.

A graduate of Butler University, Mr. Miller served as a trustee for that university and as a member of the board of trustees for Tougaloo College, Jackson, Miss.

Mr. Miller also attended Harvard Law School and after graduation in 1930, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service before founding the law firm.

He was a member of University Park Christian Church, and a life member of the Eagle Scouts.

He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1989 by Gov. Evan Bayh.

Contributions may be made to the Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America, or the donor's favorite charity.

Services: 10 a.m. Jan 11 in Flanner & Buchanan Broad Ripple Mortuary, with calling from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 10. Entombment: Crown Hill Cemetery.

Survivors: wife Ophelia T. Lester Miller: children Terry A.M.Mumford, Merle H. Jr., Lester C. Miller; sister Sara Elizabeth Hoffman; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. - The Indianapolis Star; Indianapolis, Indiana; Thursday, January 09, 1997; Page 46.

married Jan 26, 1931 Marion County, Indiana Dorthey Maude Isabelle Griggs

Middletown, Ind., Feb. 18. - Friends here have received announcements the marriage of Merle Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Miller of Indianapolis, and Miss Dorothy Griggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Griggs. of Bedford, which took place October 10, 1930 at Indianapolis. Mr. Miller is now practicing law at Indianapolis, and at present is living with his parents on Shrives street, Indianapolis - Star Press/Muncie Morning Star, Muncie, Indiana Thu, Feb 19, 1931 Page 4

Birth: 10 Sep 1904 Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio. Death: 2 Mar 1946 Indianapolis, Marion, IN, Burial MAR 4,1946 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana daughter of Samuel Griggs and Isabella "Belle" Marriott

Mrs. Herel H. Miller Dies; Riyes Tomorrow

Mrs. Dorthey Griggs Miller, wife of Merle H. Miller, prominent Indianapolis attorney, died at 2 o'clock yesterday morning in her home, 6145 Primrose Avenue. She had been ill more than a year.

he was born at Cleveland, O., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Griggs. The family moved to Indianapolis when Mrs, Miller was 9 years old. She attended School No.15 at Beville Avenue Michigan Street and was graduated in 1922 from Arsenal Technical High School where she was vice-president of her senior class.

Mrs. Miller was a member of the University Park Christian Church and Acacia Chapter, International Travel Study Club.

Survivors are the husband, a son, Merle H. Miller Jr.; the mother, Mrs. Sam Griggs of Indianapolis; a brother, Hal Griggs, 116 East 27th Street; a sister, Mrs. Lionel Brown of Crane City; three nieces, Miss Shirley Ann Brown, Sandra Griggs and Linda Lou Griggs, and a nephew, Robert Griggs.

Funeral services will be held at o'clock Monday afternoon in Shirley Brothers' Central Chapel. - Indianapolis Star Sun, Mar 03, 1946 ·Page 20

Their child:

Merle Hamilton Miller JR 1931–2017

married Aug. 28, 1948, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana Ophelia Tea' Lester Birth Aug. 30, 1917 Key West, Monroe County, Flordia Fla. Death Feb. 26, 2009 Indianapolis, Marion COunty, Indiana Burial Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion County, Indianadaughter of Joseph Lancelot Lester and Hermionia Leonella Recio.

Their marriage was a 48-year love story documented by Merle in "The Courting of Ophelia."

Children of Merle and Ophelia:

Theresa "Terry" Ann Miller
Lester C. Miller