Harold Guest (Hack) Miller passed away peacefully on July 31, 1998 at LDS Hospital.
He was born March 16, 1915, Salt Lake City, Utah to Austin Porter Miller and Mary Jane Guest Miller. He married Barbara Cannon, 1941, in the Manti Temple.Hack began as a writer and photographer for The Deseret News in 1934, where he wrote a daily column for 44 years. After graduating from the University of Utah with a Doctorate in Jurisprudence, he postponed his law practice to serve in World War II. He volunteered as a buck private, served as the Commander of the Port of Embarkation in England, and returned a Lieutenant Colonel. He rejoined the Deseret News as the managing editor, then as Sports Editor and feature writer due to his passion for writing.
Hack anchored the first live TV sports feature in Utah on KSL (Ch.5) and later with KCPX (Ch.4). For three years he was the featured lecturer for prestigious California A.M. series on Russia, Siberia, Vietnam, and Morocco (where he was twice King Hussein's golf guest). He enjoyed speaking for various Utah clubs and social groups on his early river running days as a boatman and reporter.
His love of sports granted him all-state recognition at Granite High in football, basketball, and track; he also lettered in baseball and played on the tennis and golf teams. At Granite he also served as Student Body President and was the Moss Honor Medal winner. On the U. of U. basketball team he started all four years, captained the 1936 team, and was unanimous all-conference forward in 1937. He earned the U. Merit Award, served on the U. Athletic Council and was a member of Skull and Bones and Owl and Key honorary societies. He was elected to four Halls of Fame, including Utah Old Timer's Athletic, World Basketball, and Granite High Halls of Fame and the Summer Games Hall of Honors. He spent 13 years on basketball's Hall of Fame selection committee and in 1962, was elected president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. He was the Utah state chairman for the Heisman Memorial Selection Committee for over 30 years.
As a reporter, Hack enjoyed covering special events such as six Olympic Games and the Utah Symphony's 15-nation Latin-American trip. He was invited to interview President Nixon at his San Clemente home exactly one year after his resignation, and was the first news reporter to do so. He covered baseball's World Series, football's top bowl games and major golf tournaments. At age 70, he retired from the Deseret News, after a 50 year tenure. Personable and dedicated, Hack called many celebrity athletes his friends.
He served an LDS mission as co-director, with his beloved wife, at the New York City Visitor's Center.
He was affiliated with Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and S.L. Kiwanis Club.
Hack is survived by his wife, Barbara; four sons, Michael C. (Suzanne) Miller, Scott C. (Karol Jean) Miller, Corey A. (Nancy) Miller, Clark Miller; and 12 grandchildren.
The family expresses sincere appreciation to Dr. James Pearl and the staff at LDS Hospital for their compassion and dedicated service.
A gathering for friends and family will be held Monday, August 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, and Tuesday prior to services from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at the mortuary chapel. Interment at SLC Cemetery, 4th Avenue and "N" Street.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Harold G. (Hack) Miller Memorial Fund for Biomedical Education and Research at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
"Papa Hack" will be remembered by his family for his countless hours spent teaching, fishing, working, serving, and loving. He will be dearly missed and always cherished.
T 8/2 N 8/4