Former NACS Chairman Miller Dies

George C. Miller Jr., former chairman of the board for the National Association of Convenience Stores from 1983-1984, died April 30 at his summer home in Virginia Beach, Va., following a brief illness, NACS announced. He was 87.

Miller served as chairman of the board of directors for Miller Enterprises Inc., a company founded in 1922 by his father George C. Miller Sr. Under his leadership, the company grew from a small hometown grocery store to a full-fledge company with 2,500 employees throughout northern and central Florida. At it peak, Miller Enterprises had 150 Handy Way and SuperValu stores, 12 Miller’s Supermarkets, one of the nation’s largest privately held petroleum distributorships and an ice plant.

Miller retired from the company in 1983, turning control over to his son Tom, NACS reported. The company was sold in 1999.

As NACS chairman, Miller oversaw the rapid growth of the NACS Show, which more than doubled its highest previous attendance in 1984, drawing nearly 7,000 attendees in Los Angeles. In addition, the size of the exposition topped 100,000 net square feet for the first time, shattering the previous best of 56,000 net square feet, according to NACS.

Miller majored in accounting at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh but left school during his junior year in 1941 to enlist in the Navy. He served until 1945, achieving the rank of chief petty officer. He remained in the Naval Reserve and was commissioned an ensign. In 1987, Miller was awarded an honorary bachelor’s degree in business administration by Duquesne, reportedly the only such honor ever awarded by the university. He also was named a distinguished alumnus.

In addition to his involvement with NACS, Miller served as chairman of the board for Certified Grocers of Florida Inc., a retailer-owned grocery cooperative, and was president of the Retail Grocers Association of Florida. He was active in his community, serving on the Putnam County School Board, Crescent City Commission, Crescent City Rotary Club, Bethune-Cookman College Board of Trustees, The Bolles School of Trustees, the Chamber of Commerce and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Miller is survived by his wife Irene P. Miller; sons George C. “Skip” Miller III, Thomas A. Miller, Daniel L. Miller and Joseph E. Miller; daughters Susan E. Miller and Deborah England; 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.