Terry Miller (politician)

Terry Miller (November 10, 1942 – April 13, 1989) was the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, 1978–1982.

Miller was born in San Francisco, California. His father, Conrad B. Miller, came to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1949 and soon began work as a fur trader in rural Alaska. Soon after, he brought the rest of his family to Alaska and settled in the Davis Subdivision, about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks. This became the fledgling community of North Pole, where the Miller family ran a trading post. That trading post evolved into the modern-day Santa Claus House, a top tourist attraction in North Pole.

He was a North Pole City Councilman, taking the oath of office two days after he turned 21, the minimum age required for that office. In 1963 Miller became the youngest member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly. In 1967, he was elected to represent Fairbanks in the State House of Representatives. He served in the Senate from 1969 to 1977, and was the Senate President in 1973–74. He was elected Lieutenant Governor and served from 1978 to 1982.

Miller was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1988. He moved to Seattle, Washington to begin treatment, but the cancer continued to spread. He died at his Seattle home on the morning of April 13, 1989, at age 46.^[1].

Terry also ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Nomination for US Senate in 1974, the Republican Nomination for Governor in 1982, and the General election for Lieutenant Governor in 1986, running on the Republican ticket with Arliss Sturgelewski.^[2]

He has been honored with the Terry Miller Legislative Office Building in Juneau, Alaska and a park in his home town of North Pole, Alaska.

He is an alumnus of Alpha Phi Omega having joined the fraternity while attending University of Alaska Fairbanks.

References

1. ^ Senate OKs Naming Former School Building After Terry Miller
2. ^ Our Campaigns