Portland State Magazine Winter 2009

degree at PSU while raising a family. Our son is returning to the pre-nursing program after 10 years in another career, and from time to time I take art classes to hone skills in my avocation." PERHAPS MOST IMPORTAN T to the directors, says William Blount, one of the foundation's original directors, is the fact that Miller would be proud of their choice. Blount, also an executive at UBS, knew Miller for nearly a half century. "I think Mr. Miller would be immensely proud ofwhat we're doing with his money," says Blount. "Portland State attracts a high grade of student and is doing a lot of positive things. We're giving it a push, and it will be up to the rest of the community to see if they want to match that." "Great cities need great universities," agrees Charles Rooks, who has stepped down as executive director and is now a foundation director. "We were very aware of how development of Portland State would affect the development of Portland, and it is an ideal time to have a catalytic influence. Portland State is so much further along than people realize. Nor only is Portland State ready to move to a higher level, it is a time in the nation when it can move into the forefront in the area of sustainability." ■ Melissa Steineger, a Portland.freelance writer, wrote the article "From the Lab to the World"for the fall 2008 Portland State Magazine. BEHIND THE MILLER NAME BORN IN OREGON IN 1905 toparentsofmodestmeans,thelare James F. "Jimmy" Miller lived a classic rags-to-riches story. Starting work at 16 as an office errand runner, he rose to become president of Blyth & Co. (a predecessor to UBS, the Swiss banking giant). A hard worker, Miller was also savvy. As a stockbroker in Portland during the Great Depression, he wrote down the names of 50 wealthy Oregonians all considered to be "tough sells." One by one, he called on each and offered to review their portfolios for free, telling them, "All you're risking is some time." A few grudgingly agreed, and Miller pre– pared detailed recommendations on each stock. Some of the people he approached were impressed enough to agree with his recommendations, and Miller's income grew from $200 a month to $800. "People with whom I deal know that my word's good," Miller cold Cher Orloff, adjunct faculty in PSU's School of Urban Studies and Planning, for an oral history Orloff was conducting. "I've never had a written con– tract with anybody, ever. It's all been a verbal contract, a handshake, and all those deals have worked out 100 percent just the way we started them." When Blyth & Co. transferred Miller to New York in 1956, Miller and his wife, Marion, continued their lifelong involvement in the arts– attending and funding various arts programs in both New York and Portland. The high point of his philanthropy came in 2002, when he founded the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation to support arts and education in Oregon. Even in his 90s, Mi ller spoke regretfully of having to leave college after one year because of finances. And the arts were a lifelong love. By creat– ing the foundation, Miller cold Orloff, he realized he could nor help all who needed help, bur he hoped to lead by example. WINTER 2009 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 9