Norman P. Miller, UCLA’s first vice chancellor of student
and campus affairs and coordinator of UCLA’s involvement in
the 1984 Olympic Games, died of natural causes Sept. 7 in his
Sherman Oaks home. He was 86.
Born in Los Angeles on April, 19, 1918, Miller had a
long-lasting relationship with UCLA.
Miller received his bachelor’s degree in physical
education from UCLA in 1939. As a UCLA student, Miller was a pole
vaulter on the track team.
After earning his master’s degree from Columbia University
in 1941 and a stint as a U.S. Air Force captain during World War
II, Miller came back to UCLA in 1949 as an assistant professor in
physical education.
“He was just gung-ho,” his wife Nadine said.
“(Sports) were his whole life.”
Miller went on to create the UCLA Office of Cultural and
Recreational Affairs in 1962. In 1970, he was appointed as the
first vice chancellor of student and campus affairs, and
spearheaded efforts to create the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center
which opened in 1966.
“It was his idea and it was his goal,” his wife
said. “There was nothing there at the time. It was really all
due to him.”
Miller was personally involved in many aspects of the athletics
programs, building several from the ground up.
“He was my first boss here at UCLA,” said Andy
Banachowski, women’s volleyball coach. “He was always
kind and gracious and always very outgoing to everyone.”
Miller was also heavily involved in the development of
UCLA’s women’s sports programs, supporting them as much
as he supported men’s sports, said Roberta Wollin,
Miller’s former secretary.
Before retiring from the vice chancellor position in 1979,
Miller was a driving force behind the creation of the Wooden Center
by submitting a referendum that would approve a student fee to go
towards the recreation center’s construction.
Miller was also instrumental in bringing the Olympic Games to
Los Angeles. He served as UCLA’s representative on the
committee that submitted Los Angeles’s bid to host the
Olympics. He planned for the games and accommodations for foreign
athletes.
Some of Miller’s hobbies included stream fishing, camping
and quail hunting in addition to his love of sports.
Miller is also survived by his sister, Barbara Skinner. Services
were held. Chapel of the Oaks at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in
Newhall handled the arrangements.