Robert Branson Miller, Jr., 71, of Battle Creek, retired publisher of the Battle Creek ENQUIRER, died Monday, March 5, 2007 at Battle Creek Health System.
Bob was born August 10, 1935 in Battle Creek to Robert B. and Jean (Leonard) Miller, Sr.
He attended Fremont Elementary and later The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. He then entered Hamilton College in Clinton, New York leaving the school to serve two years in the U. S. Navy. He finished college at Michigan State University where he earned a degree in English.
Following his father’s and grandfather’s careers he became a third-generation newspaperman. He worked for various newspapers, including the Battle Creek ENQUIRER and Lansing STATE JOURNAL. His father owned the newspapers as part of Federated Publications which also included the Port Huron TIMES-HERALD in Michigan and several other community newspapers in the Midwest.
Federated also owned newspapers in the Northwest. Bob moved his family to Idaho where he became Assistant Publisher of the Idaho STATESMAN in Boise. He then became Publisher of the family-owned DAILY OLYMPIAN in Olympia, Washington in 1966 and later returned to Boise to become Publisher of the Idaho STATESMAN. Federated Publications was sold to the Gannett Corporation in 1971.
He returned to Battle Creek to take over publishing duties at the Battle Creek ENQUIRER when his father retired in 1979; a position he held until illness forced his retirement.
Miller was active in many community endeavors and continued the works of his family in the Battle Creek area through the Albert L. and Louise B. Miller Foundation which was established by Bob, Sr. and his sons, Bob, Jr. and Al in memory of Louise B. Miller. The first project of the foundation was the Miller Gymnasium and pool at Kellogg Community College. The Miller Foundation has been one of driving forces behind many of Battle Creek’s developments over the years.
