Phillip "Phil" Miller

Phillip "Phil" Miller. . , Phillip "Phil J. Miller was born July 7, 1914 and was raised in Upland, Indiana. He graduated from Upland High School in 1932, where he excelled in academics and athletics. During his senior year, he led the Upland Highlanders to the County Baseball Championship by pitching a one-hit game., Phil attended Taylor University, graduating in 1936. While at Taylor, he participated in multiple sports. setting records that stood into the 1960s. After graduating from Taylor, Phil played professional baseball and basketball., In 1938, Phil married Josephine Erler, and together they raised three sons: Ed, Jim, and John. Phil was Taylor's head basketball coach in the early 1940s and he went on to serve as Taylor's Athletic Director. He also worked for Indiana Michigan Power from 1943-1946., In 1946. Phil and Josephine purchased and, together, operated the Ford dealership in Upland until his death. They were members of the Upland Chamber of Commerce and members of Upland United Methodist Church., Phil joined the Upland Volunteer Fire Department in 1946, where he served as Captain. Phil suffered a fatal heart attack while fighting a fire in 1968., In 1973, Phil was posthumously inducted as a charter member into the Taylor University Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements in baseball and basketball. In 2008, he was honored by the Upland Volunteer Fire Department for his dedicated service., Many of Phil's three children, seven grandchildren, and multiple great-grandchildren still live in the Upland area.