Dutch was the 7th child from the marriage of Arvilla Taylor and Julius “Fred” Frederick Miller. He was born on August 6, 1922, in the small eastern Kentucky town of Adeline. His mother died when he was 8 years old. His father then remarried, and there was a child born of this union. His half- brother, Joe, was born when Dutch was 9 years old. His father died when he was just 12 years old. At this point, he was sent to live with his oldest sister Goldie and her husband John Elswick, as they had no children. He attended school in Ashland, Kentucky. He left High School and went to Jackson, Mississippi to work for the American Telegraph Company.
As a member of the “Greatest Generation” Dutch chose to serve his country. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in December of 1942. He had the fortitude to learn to fly, and as a pilot he was sent to the Pacific theater of operations. There he flew with the VMF-214, led by “Pappy” Boyington of the Black Sheep Marine Fighter Squadron in F4U Corsairs!
Dutch served in the Marines on three different occasions. His first time was his service in WWII, from December 1942-April 1946. His second and third time serving were April 1952-August 1954 and August 1955-January 1958 respectively. During this time in service, he earned his GED.
In the spring of 1946, Dutch married the beautiful Betty Ann Sheets from Ashland, Kentucky. They had three sons – Marc, Matt, and Myke. After his marriage, and in between his service in the Marines, he started his career in Ashland, Kentucky as a salesman for Met Motors. He and Betty Ann then moved to Huntington, WV where he became a salesman and then Sales Manager for Rich Chevrolet.
Roger Dean bought the Rich Chevrolet business at 610 4th Ave. circa 1957, and Dutch became the General Manager in 1960. His larger-than-life personality, work ethic, and his determination to succeed, led Dutch to initiate the process to purchase the Chevy dealership. He borrowed enough money to buy 50% of the store and renamed it “Dutch Miller Chevrolet”. He took this risk even with a young family, determined to provide a future for them and the people who worked for him. His confidence and his ability to make the dealership prosper, was a testament to his determination, entrepreneurial spirit, and business acumen. By 1972 he owned 100% of the dealership.
30 years after returning from WWII, he built a new dealership and wanted to honor his friend and wingman from Louisiana, Lt. H.D. Scramuzza. They met in pilot training and flew in the war together, but he lost his life in action over the Pacific on February 16,1945. Fellow Marines never forget. He raised the largest US flag in the state in honor of his friend. You can see the flag from many blocks away on Washington Avenue in Huntington and even into Ohio to this day.
The Dutch Miller Auto Group is now owned and operated by Dutch’s son, Matt Miller, and his two grandsons, Chris and Sam Miller. The business has grown to include vehicles made by Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Buick, Nissan, Subaru, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Hyundai, and Kia. They currently employ over 450 people and proudly serve the Tri-State from our West Virginia Dealerships in Huntington, Barboursville, Charleston, Ripley, and Beckley along with serving communities outside of WV in Charlotte, NC; Wytheville, VA; Bristol TN; and El Dorado, KS.
Dutch was a pillar in his community. He not only served as a Marine pilot, but he also used his talents and personality in so many ways. He was known throughout the country as an announcer for the Golden Gloves (for 40 years!) and was asked on different occasions to go to New York to announce the big Golden Gloves championship fights. He announced the Junior League horse shows and lent his voice to many philanthropic events. In 1995, the City of Huntington Foundation honored Dutch for his contributions to the area with a plaque on the “Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.”
Dutch was a huge supporter of Marshall University and a founding board member of the Yeager Scholars. He was a natural athlete and loved to compete on any golf course anywhere.
Dutch passed away on March 8, 1995 at the age of 72. He was followed by the love of his life, Betty Ann, on August 10, 1995. They had been married for almost 49 years. They both left a legacy of service in the community, which has passed to their children and now through their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
