This week, Utah lost a soldier of real stature. Maj. Gen. James M. Miller passed away quietly in St. George, surrounded by family. He was a military leader of consequence, but to those who knew him best, Jim Miller was far more than a general. He was a teacher’s teacher and a mentor.
My connection with Jim Miller began not in the halls of government or under the formalities of military review, but in a fifth grade classroom in Cedar City. It was 1962, and I was an 11-year-old student at South Elementary School. Jim Miller was in the earliest stages of his education career and a first lieutenant in the Utah National Guard.
His teaching was vibrant, filled with energy and always laced with stories — some from books, others drawn straight from his military training. He didn’t just teach subjects; he inspired curiosity. He had a presence that made us want to learn, and a kindness that made us feel seen…