CSM Newsroom

Statement from CSM President Dr. Maureen Murphy on the Passing of Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

January 16, 2021

The College of Southern Maryland family mourns the passing of Maryland Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

The College of Southern Maryland family mourns the passing of Maryland Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

The College of Southern Maryland family mourns the passing of Maryland Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. We will be forever grateful for his leadership, his friendship, and his fiery passion for education, and educators.

Senate President Emeritus Miller was a poised, straight-talker who never wavered in his commitment to serve his Maryland constituents equitably. A member of the Maryland State Senate since 1975, Miller served as senate president from 1987 until January 2020 when he was named Senate President Emeritus. He continued to serve in the senate, representing District 27 until last fall.

A native son of his beloved hometown Clinton, Md., Senator Miller referred to himself as “just a local fellow and a student of history,” who continued to feel honored and privileged at having been the longest-serving state senate president in Maryland history and in the United States.

But it is those he leaves behind who are honored: Grateful to carry on his spirit of bi-partisanship; cooperation; common sense pragmatism; and civility.

CSM was proud to launch the Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Center for Leadership alongside Senate President Emeritus, his family, and friends in fall 2019. We were even more thrilled he was able to participate in the center’s first programing in September giving him a chance to do what he does best … interact with students grappling with the day’s leadership challenges.

His public battle with cancer proved that his final days were much like his tireless years in public service: Marked with his trademark grit and wit. We will honor his legacy, his commitment to students, and continue his fight to provide affordable and accessible education for all, always.

CSM was honored to spend time with Senator Miller in fall 2019 and hear his thoughts about leadership and his hopes for our future generations. We are honored to share portions of that interview with you in our memorial tribute, here: https://www.csmd.edu/community/miller-center-for-leadership/

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