Don Miller who was born March 30,1902, to Annie (O'Reilly) and Martin E. Miller of Defiance, lived at 18675 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights .Don began his football career at Defiance High School where he played until his gradation in 1920. During his senior year the team compiled 328 points to its opponents' 54.
Don and his brother, Jerry entered Notre Dame together in 1920, following in the footsteps of three other brothers. Harry, Ray and Walter, who gained recognition on the Irish football field.
Don played right halfback for Notre Dame from 1922-24 under the direction of coach Knute Rockne and carried the ball 283 times for 1,933 yards an average of 6.8 per carry, a Notre Dame record that still stands (1979).
Don once said that "I wasn't much of player in high school and I couldn't even make the freshman team at Notre Dame. I was discouraged and ready to quite when Rockne astonished me one day by putting me in the regular backfield. And he kept me there. He had seen something in me that even I didn't know I had."
Following the Irish's 1924 victory over army, a team considered almost unbeatable, sportswriter Grantland Rice compared the Notre Dame backfield to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the name stuck.
The team finished the season undefeated and topped it off with a Rose Bowl victory over Stanford.
The other members of the famed backfield included Jim Crowley,Elmer Layden and Harry Stuhldreher. Crowly is now the only living member of the foursome (1979).
In 1923, Don was the only member of the Notre Dame backfield to earn All-American honors but the following year, his three backfield teammates were chosen and he was omitted.
After graduating from Notre Dame, Don was backfield coach at Georgia Tech for four years and was there when Tech beat California in the 1925 Rose Bowl game.
Then, until 1933. he joined the Ohio State staff as a assistant football coach.
In 1933, he entered private law practice in Cleveland with three of his four brothers. One of them, Ray, went on to become mayor of Cleveland from 1931-33 and chairman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Orgnization.
In 1942, Don was appointed to succeed Emrich C Freed as U.S. district attorney for northern Ohio and held this post for 11 years. During his first 15 months in office, Don got 358 convictions.
Don was unanimously elected of the United States District Attorneys Association in 1947
In 1965, he was appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge and remained at that post until his retirement in 1977.
Don returned to Defiance in 1953 to receive a key to the city and to be honored for his selection to Cleveland "Assembly of Famous Personalities." On Nov. 12, 1976, Don received an award from Defiance city officials when he attended a football game between Defiance and Elida high schools at Fred J. Brown Stadium.
Don was initiated into the National Football Hall of Fame for College Stars in 1970.
On May 14, 1931, Don married Mae Lynch, Family include one son, Donald C Jr; five daughters Ann Barrett, Nancy Beringer, Dodie Thompson, Judith Collins and Elizabeth Miller and 28 grandchildren.
Don Miller passed away 28 July 1979, at Cleveland, Ohio and buried at All Souls Cemetery, Chardon Geauga County Ohio.
After graduating from Notre Dame, Don was backfield coach at Georgia Tech for four years and was there when Tech beat California in the 1925 Rose Bowl game.
Then, until 1933. he joined the Ohio State staff as a assistant football coach.
In 1933, he entered private law practice in Cleveland with three of his four brothers. One of them, Ray, went on to become mayor of Cleveland from 1931-33 and chairman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Orgnization.
In 1942, Don was appointed to succeed Emrich C Freed as U.S. district attorney for northern Ohio and held this post for 11 years. During his first 15 months in office, Don got 358 convictions.
Don was unanimously elected of the United States District Attorneys Association in 1947
In 1965, he was appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge and remained at that post until his retirement in 1977.
Don returned to Defiance in 1953 to receive a key to the city and to be honored for his selection to Cleveland "Assembly of Famous Personalities." On Nov. 12, 1976, Don received an award from Defiance city officials when he attended a football game between Defiance and Elida high schools at Fred J. Brown Stadium.
Don was initiated into the National Football Hall of Fame for College Stars in 1970.
On May 14, 1931, Don married Mae Lynch, Family include one son, Donald C Jr; five daughters Ann Barrett, Nancy Beringer, Dodie Thompson, Judith Collins and Elizabeth Miller and 28 grandchildren.
Don Miller passed away 28 July 1979, at Cleveland, Ohio and buried at All Souls Cemetery, Chardon Geauga County Ohio.
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