Walter Dale Miller | |
|---|---|
 Miller in 1985 | |
| 29thGovernor of South Dakota | |
| In office April 19, 1993 – January 7, 1995 | |
| Lieutenant | Steve T. Kirby |
| Preceded by | George S. Mickelson |
| Succeeded by | Bill Janklow |
| 34thLieutenant Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 6, 1987 – April 19, 1993 | |
| Governor | George S. Mickelson |
| Preceded by | Lowell C. Hansen II |
| Succeeded by | Steve T. Kirby |
| Member of theSouth Dakota House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1967 – January 6, 1987 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1925-10-05)October 5, 1925 Viewfield, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 2015(2015-09-28) (aged 89) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Occupation |
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Walter Dale "Walt" Miller (October 5, 1925 – September 28, 2015) was an American politician and member of theRepublican Party. He served as the 29thgovernor of South Dakota from 1993 to 1995, having assumed the office upon the death ofGeorge S. Mickelson. He was, at age 67 upon taking office, the oldest person to serve as the governor ofSouth Dakota.[1]
Miller was born in 1925 in the unincorporated community ofViewfield inMeade County, South Dakota near his family ranch, where he lived and worked throughout his life.[2] He attended theSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology but did not graduate. In addition to ranching, Miller was the president of the Dakota National Life Insurance Company from 1970 to 1985.
From 1967 to 1986, Miller served in theSouth Dakota House of Representatives. From 1975 to 1978, and again in 1986, he served as House Majority Leader. Miller was Speaker of the House in 1981 and 1982. During his legislative tenure, he also served as Speaker ProTempore, Assistant Majority Leader, and Majority Whip.[3]
In the1984 presidential election, Miller was the state chair of theReagan-Bush campaign, and in the1988 presidential election he was the state co-chair of theBush-Quayle campaign.
George S. Mickelson announced on June 16, 1986 that he would pick Miller to be his choice for lieutenant governor for that November'selection.[4] The ticket was victorious and Miller served as the 34thLieutenant Governor of South Dakota and its first full-time lieutenant governor from 1987 until Governor Mickelson's death on April 19, 1993, when he assumed the governorship.[5][6]
Miller lost the1994 Republican gubernatorial primary to former two-term governorBill Janklow.
After leaving office in 1995, Miller continued to ranch north ofNew Underwood, on the boundary betweenMeade andPennington counties, and resided part-time inFort Pierre, where he was involved in various lobbying and ranching activities.
In 1943, he married Mary Randall, with whom he had four children: Nancy, Karey, Randy and Renee. Mary died in 1989. In 1993, Miller married Patricia Caldwell, becoming the first governor of South Dakota to marry while in office. He had two stepchildren, Cade and Rebecca.[7] Patricia Caldwell Miller ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination forstate auditor in 2010. She served as deputy secretary of state, and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination forsecretary of state in 2014.[8]
Miller died on September 28, 2015, at age 89 one week before his 90th birthday, while visitingDallas.[9] He was returned to South Dakota, and buried inViewfield.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of South Dakota 1986,1990 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives 1981–1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota 1987–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of South Dakota 1993–1995 | Succeeded by |
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| Lieutenant governors | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
