Herbert S. Miller

Herb Miller youngest son of Pauline and Louis Miller of Bradenton, Florida died April 9, 2020. Herb was born in 1939 at Bradenton General Hospital in Bradenton. He was preceded in death by both parents and his older Brother Edward D. Miller. Herb attended all local schools from Ballard Elementary through Manatee County High School. It was here during his early years that Miller developed his love of the water, sailing, fishing, and all outdoor activities surrounding his childhood home on the Manatee River. He attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida from 1957 until 1962. During his freshman year at Florida Southern he quit to join the prominent Blue Ocean Sailor, neighbor Jim Crawford, who taught Miller to sail. Crawford 's next sailing mission was preparation for his "round the world " venture aboard Dirigo 11. After working on the 60-foot schooner preparing for the trip, it was decided that at 18 years old Miller was too young to be considered for this adventure. Miller often gave recognition to those close neighbors who, by example, instilled in him how and the way to grow. Those experiences became the very fabric of his being. From their joy of helping and giving, their sharing of knowledge of all things, along with demonstrating to him the opportunity that is available to those who search for it. Those neighbors included Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Bishop, Miss Mary E. Parker, Ruth and Doctor W. D. Sugg, Jim and Cecile Crawford, and of course, Mary Johnson and Mary Herbert. He often praised his Mother and Father for never & extinguishing the spark of adventure that lasted a lifetime. He returned to Florida Southern in the summer of 1958. He was a member of the Florida Southern Water Moccasins rowing team, where he lettered as their coxswain. During his senior year he was appointed the coach making, at that time, the youngest collegiate rowing coach in the country. Leaving Florida Southern Miller enlisted in the United States Coast Guard Reserves. Before and during his reserve duty he was employed by Griffith-Cline Funeral Homes serving an apprenticeship of five years. After his completion of the required training he became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. In 1966 Miller, was elected to the Anna Maria City council. While serving as commissioner he took the lead role in saving the then, and now, still famous city pier. In 1971 he and his family moved to Maryville, TN where he began a new career in banking. He began his officer training with Blount National Bank, Maryville, Tennessee, a member of the holding company Tennessee National Bankshares. He first worked as manager of the bank's credit card program. He received training in all facets of banking, from teller work, loans both commercial and personal, and branch management. His training included various ABA courses, and he attended the Graduate School of Banking at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Afterwards he was given the task of opening a new branch in Townsend, Tennessee. After five years of branch work he was appointed President and CEO of Citizen State Bank of McMinnville, TN. During his twelve years in McMinnville, among other civic duties he was also chairman of the Warren County United Way, where he took the task of raising funds for the Mental Health Program of Middle Tennessee for the creation of a satellite branch of the Cookeville, TN location. For his dedication to Mental Health he was honored for his efforts with the Bell Ringer Award for outstanding leadership in working with the various issues of mental health. Miller was also a member of Kiwanis, and many year member of the B.P.O.E., Elks. He was elected to the original Board of Directors of Remote Area Medical. A not for profit 501c corporation founded by world famous adventurous Stan Brock of the award-winning television series Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Brock and Miller made numerous trips together, and the two became lifetime friends. He was recruited in the early ‘80s to become President and CEO of Coalmont Savings Bank of Altmont, TN with its four branches. In the middle ‘80s he took on the duties as President and CEO of the Holdenville State Bank of Holdenville, Oklahoma. This bank was associated with the then largest bank failure to that date in the United States, Penn Square of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Penn Square brought down many banks across the United States due to unsafe and unsound banking practices. In spite of his efforts, the efforts of ownership, the Board of Directors, and those of the of the Oklahoma Board of Financial Institutions, this bank also failed. Miller then started consulting for large insurers, mainly The Lexington Insurance Company, part of the American International Group, (AIG), specializing in Officer and Directors Liability Insurance. He also worked for the FSLIC which was going through a crisis of similar basis bringing about the necessity of the creation of The Resolution Trust Commission. Miller, traveled throughout Texas and the southwest helping the FDIC and FSLIC get a handle on their mounting problems. After consulting with both insurers and the Federal Government he then returned to Tennessee. He moved and lived in Townsend, Tennessee for two years. He was offered employment with the State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991. He retired from the position of insurance examiner in 2002 after eleven years. Herb Miller is survived by his two sons, the oldest Kevin Miller of Altadena, CA and granddaughter Ruby. Herb's youngest son Travis Miller of Leesburg, VA, and grandson Alex Miller. Miller notes that his two sons have grown and matured into what every father could only ask for. It is here that he pauses to recognized and praise their mother, Patricia Anne Welsh Miller Trammel for providing them both the love, encouragement, and dreams that can only be found in a loving and giving home. Please make donation payable to Ginny Moore and mail to: Advocacy4Aging 535 Kirkland Circle Dunedin, Florida 34698 Donation is non tax deductible www.alignable.com/Dunedin-fl/Advocacy4Aging-2