Background
Miller, Paul was born on September 28, 1906 in Diamond, Missouri, United States. Son of James and Clara (Ranne) Miller.
Miller, Paul was born on September 28, 1906 in Diamond, Missouri, United States. Son of James and Clara (Ranne) Miller.
Student, University Oklahoma, 1930. Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University, 1931. Doctor of Science, Clarkson College, 1956.
Doctor of Laws, Ursinus College, 1959. Data Control Language, Union College, 1965. Doctor of Letters, Westminster College, Niagara University, 1968.
Doctor of Humane Letters, Transylvania University, 1974. Doctor of Humane Letters, University Missouri, 1981. DL, Hobart and William Smith College, 1978.
He headed the Gannett newspaper chain from 1957 to 1973. Miller also served as the top official of the Associated Press from 1963 to 1977. Early years
While still in high school, he went to work as a reporter for the Pawhuska Daily Journal and served for a time as the paper"s city editor before starting college.
Miller edited the paper in Okemah for 15 months before relocating with his family to Norman, Oklahoma.
He moved on to work for the Oklahoma Publishing Company (publisher of The Oklahoman) in Oklahoma City, took classes at the University of Oklahoma, and ultimately returned to Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical where he received his degree in 1931. He became head of the Associated Press"s Washington, District of Columbia bureau in 1942.
Gannett Company
In 1947 Miller joined Gannett Company, based in Rochester, New New York Miller succeeded Frank Gannett as president and Chief Executive Officer of the company in 1957.
At that time, the Gannett chain had 19 daily newspapers in 4 states.
Under Miller"s leadership the company grew from a regional to a national chain. By 1970, when Miller became chairman of the company (giving up the president"s position to his executive vice president, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Neuharth), the Gannett chain had 53 daily newspapers in 16 states and Guam. Like Frank Gannett before him, Miller followed a strategy of acquiring newspapers in cities and situations where the company would face minimal competition.
In 1973 Neuharth ousted Miller from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Gannett.
Miller remained chairman of Gannett until 1978. Associated Press
Miller was elected to the board of directors of the Associated Press in 1950. and became president of the Associated Press in 1963.
His title was changed to chairman in 1972 and he held the position until 1977. He was the first Associated Press employee to serve on its board and the first to lead the organization.
In 1972 Miller led an Associated Press delegation to China to negotiate a news exchange agreement with the news agency then known as Hsinhua.
This was the first news link in the People"s Republic of China for an American news organization in 22 years. Miller"s stories about this trip became a 1972 booklet, China Opens the Door published by Gannett. Later years
In 1976, Oklahoma State University named its journalism department building after Miller.
After suffering a debilitating stroke, Miller died of pneumonia on August 21, 1991, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
At the time of Miller"s death, Gannett was the nation"s largest newspaper group, with 82 daily newspapers and a total circulation of 6.4 million.
President, chairman Frank E. Gannett Newspaper Foundation (name now Freed Forum), 1957-1981. Advisory board American Press Institute, 1953-1963, chairman, 1958-1963. Director New York World's Fair Corporation, 1961.
Former trustee New York Racing Association. Honorary trustee Rochester Institute of Technology. Chairman Rochester chapter American Red Cross, 1958.
Former board directors Boys' Clubs American. Member President's Commission for Observance of 25th Anniversary United Nations. Fellow Sigma Delta Chi (honorary president 1962).
Member Inter American Press Association, New York State Publications Association (president 1954), American Society Newspaper Editors (delegate International Federation Editors and Publications, Amsterdam 1949), Rochester Automobile Club (director), Gridiron Club, National Press Club, Genesee Valley Club, Oak Hill Country Club, Augusta National Club, Everglades, Kappa Sigma.
Married Louise Johnson, October 19, 1932. Children: Ranne Johnson, Jean Louise, Paul Talford, Kenper Wright.