President Lori Bettison-Varga today announced a $2 million gift to Scripps College. Prior to his death in January, trustee emeritus Frank R. Miller, Jr. dedicated $2 million to the College to honor his late wife, Katharine Howard Miller ’55.
Frank R. Miller, Jr. was appointed to the Scripps College Board of Trustees in 2004 to complete his wife’s term after she died. Katharine Howard Miller had served on the College’s board of trustees from 1973 until her death in September 2004. She served as chair of the Educational Policy Committee and on several other committees. She played a key role in nearly every major initiative affecting the College, including capital campaigns, building projects, and strategic planning. Until her death, she was the College’s liaison to the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
“Their love for Scripps College was surpassed only by their love for each other and their family,” said Bettison-Varga. “The Scripps community is honored to be the beneficiaries of their time and support, and of this remarkable gift.
A retired accountant, Frank R. Miller, Jr. was a licensed CPA in private practice in Santa Barbara and previously owner of CVC LP, a real property company. Following the fulfillment of his wife’s term, he became a trustee emeritus and was an active and engaged trustee until his death in January 2012. An alumnus of Claremont McKenna College, Miller was the board’s first representative to the Claremont University Consortium’s Audit Steering Committee.
The $2 million gift was announced at the March 3 gathering of the Scripps College Board of Trustees. The board unanimously passed a resolution honoring the Millers for their devotion and tireless commitment to the College. In recognition of that commitment, the new wing of a planned construction project, which will provide future additional faculty offices, will be named in honor of Katharine Howard Miller.