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Fred Miller (American football, born 1906)

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Fred Miller
Born:(1906-01-26)January 26, 1906
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died:December 17, 1954(1954-12-17) (aged 48)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Tackle
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
CollegeUniversity of Notre Dame,
B.A. 1929 [1]

Frederick C. Miller (January 26, 1906 – December 17, 1954) was a college football player, an All-American tackle under head coach Knute Rockne at the University of Notre Dame,[2][3][4] posthumously elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985. He later served as an unpaid assistant coach for the Irish, flying in from Milwaukee several times a week.[4]

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller was the son of Carl A. Miller of Germany,[1] and Clara Miller (no relation), a daughter of Miller Brewing Company founder Frederick Miller, also a German immigrant.[5]

Succeeding his younger cousin Harry John (1919–1992), Miller became the president of the family brewing company in 1947 at age 41 and had a major role in bringing Major League Baseball to Wisconsin, moving the Braves from Boston to Milwaukee in 1953. He coaxed Lou Perini into moving them into the new County Stadium and was made a director for the team.[6] The Braves later played in consecutive World Series in 1957 and 1958, both against the New York Yankees. Both series went the full seven games with Milwaukee winning the former and New York the latter.[7][8]

Death

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The father of two sons and six daughters, Miller was killed in a plane crash at age 48 on December 17, 1954, while on the way to a hunting trip in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.[9] The company plane, a converted twin-engine Lockheed Ventura that was bound for Winnipeg’s airport on a Friday evening, had trouble with both engines and crashed shortly after takeoff from Mitchell Field in Milwaukee.[10][11] Also killed were his oldest son, 20-year-old Fred, Jr.,[12] and the two company pilots, Joseph and Paul Laird.[13][14] The Monday funeral for the Millers at Gesu Church was attended by thousands.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fred Miller will get Notre Dame degree". Milwaukee Journal. May 31, 1929. p. 5. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 22, 1927). "Fred Miller, back home, says piece about 'Rock'". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6, part 2. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Fred Miller is elected Notre Dame captain". Milwaukee Journal. February 2, 1928. p. 2, part 2. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Miller Brewing Co. president is a colorful figure". Milwaukee Journal. (Miller High Life Journal - advertisement). July 19, 1949. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "Miller's grandfather came here as immigrant in 1854". Milwaukee Journal. December 18, 1954. p. 4. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Remembering Frederick C. Miller, Milwaukee brewing's 1st rock star". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "1957 World Series - Milwaukee Braves over New York Yankees (4-3)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "1958 World Series - New York Yankees over Milwaukee Braves (4-3)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  9. ^ The Plane Crash that Changed the Future of Milwaukee Baseball and Miller Brewing Company
  10. ^ "Fred Miller, son die in fiery plane crash". Milwaukee Sentinel. December 18, 1954. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Fred C. Miller, son killed in air crash". Milwaukee Journal. December 18, 1954. p. 1.
  12. ^ "Fred Miller, Jr., versatile athlete". Milwaukee Sentinel. December 18, 1954. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  13. ^ "Pilots buried side by side". Milwaukee Journal. December 20, 1954. p. 2.
  14. ^ "CAB findings in Miller crash". Milwaukee Sentinel. March 18, 1955. p. 1, part 2.
  15. ^ "Crowd of 3,000 overflows church for Millers' funeral". Milwaukee Journal. December 20, 1954. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  16. ^ Riordon, Robert J. (December 21, 1954). "Miller, son, buried in spirit of triumph". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
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