Former Indiana sports information director Tom Miller passed away on March 15. Miller, a long-time media relations member for IU who retired in 1982, provided strength and professionalism throughout the early days of Hoosier history. The Indiana Athletics family wishes to remember the greatness of his life as a Hoosier. Chuck Crabb, Don Fischer and Kit Klingelhoffer each took a moment to reflect on their relationships with Miller.
Chuck Crabb
Assistant Athletic Director/Facilities
Tom Miller always will be remembered for his professional standards, integrity, devotion to his family and loyalty to Indiana University. I was so fortunate to work as a student assistant for him for three years, and then for several years as a colleague before his retirement. Tom went about his work and it was by his example of a work ethic second to none that we all aspired to be like Tom.
Nobody was more positive and optimistic about Indiana University and its intercollegiate athletics program than Tom Miller. He was here for many successes and championships, but he also experienced the four-year period of 1960-64 when Indiana was on NCAA probation. He chronicled the successes of the Indiana program in the late 1960s through his retirement in 1983. He worked for over 36 years when more face-to-face sales of a story angle were done instead of depending upon e-mails, faxes and bullet-point information displays.
Tom was a tremendous practitioner and words craftsman. He represented so well his alma mater, Indiana University and will be missed by those of us who knew him.
Don Fischer
Radio Voice of the Hoosiers
I came to IU in 1973 as the new play-by-play announcer for the IU Radio Network. Tom Miller didn't know me from Adam, but he took me under his wing, explained what kind of personalities I would be dealing with in Lee Corso and Bob Knight, and told me his door would always be open if I had any problems with either.
I took advantage of Tom's generous offer many times over the years we worked together.
Tom loved telling stories, had a great sense of humor, and was always willing to spend time if you needed help, or had an idea you wanted some advice on.
After he retired, Tom and his wife Ruthie were inseparable and came to games every Saturday during football. I loved seeing and talking to them. They just made you feel good. From now on, the IU press box will always feel like a little something is missing. Our loss is the Lord's gain.
Kit Klingelhoffer
Assistant Athletic Director/Game Management
Without Tom Miller, my last 36 years would not have been spent at Indiana University. Tom Miller gave me the unbelievable opportunity to work as a student assistant in the athletic publicity office in the fall of 1968, and then moved me into the assistant director's position in 1970 - when he undoubtedly could have hand-picked a couple hundred more experienced, more qualified people to have assumed my role as his assistant.
Words cannot begin to express what I learned from that incredible man. I do know this. In a time when one-on-one contact and interaction with the media was probably the most important part of the sports information job description, Tom Miller was recognized - by his peers in the Big Ten and nationally and by the local, regional and national media - as the consummate professional, one of the very best in his chosen profession. The number of friends he made for Indiana University is incalculable.
Tom was a teacher, a mentor, a friend. His unquestioned love for Indiana University in general and Indiana University Athletics in particular was in evidence throughout his nearly 40-year career. If he had an enemy, it was never evident.
Hall of Fames are not for the good, not for the great, but for the vest best. It is no wonder then, that Tom Miller is a member of both the Indiana University Athletic Hall of Fame and the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame.
Tom was not a tall man, probably around 5-8, and had a small, size 7 shoe. At a retirement party for Tom in December of 1982, I remarked that it would be a tall order for me, as Tom's successor, to be able to fill those tiny 7 shoes. I'm not sure I ever did, or in fact, ever could have filled those shoes. Because, while small in size, Tom Miller was a giant of a man, one who will be missed by all that knew him or learned from him, but will be always be respected and revered by those same people.