HAMPTON, Va. – The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has named the late Senator John C. Miller as the 2016 Distinguished Citizen of the Year.
Sharron Miller, Sen. Miller’s wife, will accept the award on his behalf at the Chamber Annual Meeting on December 6 at the Newport News Mariott City Center.
Sen. Miller passed away in April at the age of 68.
Miller served in the Senate of Virginia for the 1st District since 2007. He won reelection in both 2011 and 2015.
Miller also served on Senate Committees for Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Local Government and Privileges and Elections.
Before his time in the State Senate, Miller worked in administration at WHRO and Christopher Newport University. He was also an aide for Senator Paul Trible for six years. Miller also spent 18 years as a manager and journalist at WVEC-TV.
Miller was also involved in the local community. He was a member of the Marketing Committee of the Newport News Economic Development Authority and served on the board of Smart Beginnings of the Virginia Peninsula. He was also a member of People to People, a group dedicated to improving race relations in Newport News and spent 20 years an umpire in the Warwick Little League.
Miller lived with his wife Sharron in Newport News. He had a daughter, Jenny, son-in-law Mark, son John, daughter-in-law Mary Peyton and grandson Isaac.
