The 86 year journey began in the North Georgia mountain town of Young Harris. It was initially fostered by a single mother, Birdie. She was tough – had to be – and raised a son that inherited stubborn tenacity and dogged determination. These personal habits were “refined” by the US Marine Corps.
His elected career began as Mayor of Young Harris, and then two terms in the State Senate. He’s Georgia’s longest serving Lieutenant Governor, from 1975 to 1991. He was Governor from 1991-1999. He was appointed then elected Senator in 2000 and served until the end of his term in 2005.
He gave us the HOPE scholarship, for which a generation or more of Georgians will be grateful for their higher education. Georgia’s higher education institutions have benefitted from the retention of in-state students as well, in both quality and quantity. This also brought gambling to Georgia – unthinkable at the time it was proposed – in the form of a state lottery. Almost 30 years later, the funds from Georgia’s lottery revenues remain restricted as to purpose as originally intended, a feat and legacy unto itself.
His critics then tagged him with the moniker “Zig Zag Zell”, but they missed the bigger picture. Miller was leading a state that was changing. He changed with it, often before many were ready. He thought big, aimed big, and used the resolve taught by a single mom and charged Georgia’s political hills like a US Marine would.
He was a Democratic Senator that spoke at Republican Conventions. He challenged commentator Chris Matthews to a Duel. He didn’t go into a fight armed with spitballs.
Along the way he confounded Republicans and Democrats alike. At the end of the journey, there are results. There is a legacy. There is a life well lived, and a state well served.
Rest in Peace Governor and Senator. Well done.