Skip to content

HALL OF FAME

F. Don Miller

Born:
April 9, 1920
Birthplace:
Racine, Wisconsin
Died:
January 17, 1996
College:
University of Wisconsin
Hall of Fame Class:
1984

hall of fame

F. Don Miller

Born:
April 9, 1920
Birthplace:
Racine, Wisconsin
Died:
January 17, 1996
College:
University of Wisconsin
Hall of Fame Class:
1984
Col. F. Don Miller, shown here in the middle receiving the Olympic Order, is regarded as one of the key figures in the development of the U.S. Olympic Committee, serving 16 years as executive director.
SHARE

Col. F. Don Miller was a national collegiate champion boxer and coached two U.S. Olympic Teams. He served 26 years in the U.S. Army, receiving the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts for his service.

It was after his career in the Army that Miller joined the U.S. Olympic Committee as its national fundraiser. He subsequently served 16 years as the USOC’s executive director. During his tenure, the USOC grew from a small agency responsible for fielding teams for international competition to a full-fledged organization tasked with helping teams and athletes improve. During Miller’s tenure, the USOC quadrennial budget grew from $4 million to $88 million.

Following the U.S. boycott of the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, there were concerns about the financial viability of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. Miller and USOC President Robert J. Kane helped save the Los Angeles Games by convincing the International Olympic Committee to allow the USOC to be the guarantor of The Games in exchange for 40 percent of any profits; The Games went on to produce a $225 million profit and Miller became the first president of the U.S. Olympic Foundation and led the expansion of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Miller was presented the Olympic Order.

Miller died in 1996. He was 75.

NEXT UP
Steve Cash made his Paralympic debut at the Torino 2006 Games, later becoming a Paralympic gold medalist and legend sled hockey goaltender, redefined excellence in adaptive sport.
Marla Runyan, the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympics, broke barriers with a career that includes six Paralympic medals—five of them gold.
Susan Hagel, a six-time Paralympian, competed in wheelchair basketball, Para archery, and Para track and field between 1976 and 1996, earning four gold and two bronze medals.
Gabby Douglas made history at the London 2012 Olympics as the first Black woman to win the all-around gymnastics title and also the first American to win all-around and team golds during the same Games.

Promotional Space
Reserved for ad, sponsorship, donate, membership, store