I dedicate this page to Mike Miller, a close friend in my early youth and someone I admired over the years. The friendship and memories were so strong that we named our son, William Michael Coombs, after him.
I first met Mike when we were somewhere between 7 to 10 years old living in the same block in Wichita, Kansas. I can’t be certain of the age because there are some memory blanks in my pre-teen years, so I’ll offer a few vignettes of our relationship.
Poplar Street
I lived in the second house from the northeast corner of Poplar and English streets. Mike lived at the other end of our block in the apartment complex at the southeast corner of Poplar and Douglas. No streets to cross except for an alley between the apartments and the houses that filled the rest of our block. Back then, as kids, you played outside almost anywhere in your block and returned home when you were called in for dinner, bedtime or other occasion. I believe we played in the alley and grounds around the apartments most of the time.
Mike lived with his mother, Pat, who I remember as a pretty lady and always addressed her as Mrs. Miller. Mike’s grandmother, Mrs. Gaines, was the owner of the apartments. At least, that’s the way I remember it. It’s important to note at this point I knew Mike as Michael Gaines Miller, and it remained so until late October, 2014.
Playing Guns
The only time I remember any disagreement in our relationship was when we “played guns”. It seemed we always challenged each other about whose turn it was to be Roy Rogers, always the first choice over Gene Autry. We had a great time hiding and running around “shooting” at each other and numerous villains. The shooting sounds we made were very authentic, at least we thought so...along with some of the neighbors. And the special time was when we had caps for our cap guns.
Ford Convertible
Mrs. Miller had one of the coolest cars I had ever seen, a sky blue Ford convertible with white (maybe off-white) upholstery. I remember riding in it at least once and enjoying the wind in my face sitting in the back seat. This was a special memory since my family didn’t own a car.
Eastborough
Eastborough at that time was a high-end-property community located on the eastern edge of Wichita. The homes were built for people in oil (the name Vickers Oil comes to mind), company owners, CEO’s and others of high incomes. The homes were all custom built, mostly two stories with many rooms and baths. It seems the lots were an acre plus. Of course when you’re younger every thing seems large. Nevertheless, the grounds were well kept with lots of trees and shrubbery. Because of its picturesque beauty it was always a treat to visit the area.
I’m not sure of the date, but I believe it was when we were in High School, or just before, that Mrs. Miller married a man named Talbott who lived in Eastborough. I don’t recall meeting Mr. Talbott, who I believe was in the oil business, but he had a huge house. I could be exaggerating but it seems there were 17 rooms and a huge basement. The basement I fondly remember because that was where Mike and I decided to “play guns”, this time with BB guns. Not the smartest thing we ever did, but we had a blast. The main room in the basement was large enough for a dance party, band and all. I remember we hid behind leather covered chairs and sofas taking shots at each other. My heart tells me we were smart enough not to hit each other, but just come close for effect. We had a great time...but I’m pretty sure we got in trouble.
Beech
One of the homes in Eastborough was owned by Walter and Olive Ann Beech, owners of Beech Aircraft located in Wichita. Mike and I were invited to their home one afternoon. I don’t remember meeting Mr. Beech, but Mrs. Beech was there and their daughter Suzanne. Suzanne was about our age and memory tells me we went out together that afternoon, maybe to a drive-in restaurant for sodas or whatever. For a kid from Poplar Street I was somewhat blown away that I was even in their house. I’m vague on the afternoon “date” because there is a definite memory blank after being in the house. Maybe it didn’t turn out so good and I chose to forget it. Or maybe it was a Poplar Street kid’s “claim to fame” embellishment after being in their house and meeting Suzanne. Nevertheless, being there would not have happened if it weren’t for Mike’s friendship.
Summer of ‘54
When Mike moved to Eastborough we didn’t see each other very often. Several times he would come and stay with his Grandmother in the apartments and we would hook up briefly. Mike was into sports, football I believe, and he ran around with guys from the team when he could. Under similar circumstances I probably would have done the same. Mike and I were about the same size, he being two months older than me and maybe an inch or so taller. The summer of 1954, between our Junior and Senior years at East High School, was very significant for Mike. I don’t remember seeing him during the summer until just before school began in the fall. And, oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Mike and some of his buddies spent the entire summer eating right and working out. He was muscled and buffed out and had gained a lot of weight. He reminded me of the Charles Atlas before and after advertisements.
We seemed to draw apart somewhat during our senior year. But I can admit I was never truly envious of Mike and his accomplishments. I think it was more of a silent pride of being his friend and marveling how he had changed.
Dartmouth
Mike received an appointment to one of the Military Academies. I think it was from the Navy, but can’t be sure. Mike was always a good student and his athletic skills opened many college opportunities for him. To my surprise Mike chose Dartmouth College. It seems we sort of lost track of each other when he went away to college. This would have been in late 1955, after our graduation from high school.
Sports Illustrated
Fast-forward to 1958 and my next memory about Mike was when I saw his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Memory is a little fuzzy but he was carrying the ball crashing through some players in a Rugby game. And that’s where my memories of Mike apparently stopped. I don’t recall reading the Sports Illustrated article, but I must have.
The memory of Mike on the cover remains quite vivid, locked in some small cluster of neurons in my brain. I would have bet the house that the image exists...I can still see it in my mind. However, after searching Sports Illustrated archives it seems there is no such cover page. The games of note were played during the Christmas holidays in 1958. Possibly my recall was related to some other sports magazine or, worst case scenario, it was a figment of my imagination. During this time I was married and in the Navy attending pharmacy school and, I believe my thinking was sharp and without much distraction.
What I did find was a vintage copy of the January 19, 1959 Sports Illustrated (then 25 cents) with an article about the Dartmouth Rugby team triumph over United Kingdom teams. This was a first for any American team to travel to the UK and play the game where the game of rugby originated. Yes, Mike was on the team. This would have been his senior year at Dartmouth.
The article by Corey Ford included six pictures (black and white) two of which Mike can be easily identified, a team picture and one action shot. I include images of those two pictures below. Rather than try to explain the circumstances, I include the first paragraph of the article.
There’ll always be an England, of course, but it may never be quite the same again after the historic invasion of the 19 husky stalwarts of the Dartmouth Rugby team last month -- the first American Rugby team to visit Jolly Old since the game originated here 135 years ago. The team broke new ground in another respect: this was the first athletic unit to travel abroad under the banner of President Eisenhower’s People to People Sports Program, and from every point of view the trip was a huge and heart-warming success. What the Dartmouth men lacked in finesse they more than made up in tackling power, in conditioning, in sheer do-or-die. They returned from their three week tour last week with five wins out of seven games, and the British loved it. The Daily Express summed it up: “Now British Rugby knows the worst -- Americans can play our game.”
My picture memory remains, but I can’t recall if I knew about the triumph in England. What a wonderful experience for my boyhood friend. It could not have happened to a better guy.
Sad but thankful
There is a huge void in our relationship, from 1959 and my mental image, and October, 2014. Through those years I often wondered about Mike and where he landed in life. But his name is ever before me; the presence or thoughts of our son William Michael often leads me to sweet memories of those innocent years back on Poplar Street. During the years I tried several times to find Mike. Yes, I saw the East High School Alumni Directory entry of Charles W. (Mike) Miller, but always discounted it because I knew him as Michael Gaines Miller. Also, somewhere in my thought processes I thought Mike was a year ahead of me in school. We both graduated in 1955.
Then came my recent internet search for “Mike Miller Dartmouth” and listed on page one of Google was the obituary for “Charles ‘Mike’ Miller - Alumni”. To honor Mike and his accomplishments I include the text below.
Charlottesville, VA
Date of Death: 12/8/2004
"Charles W. Miller, M.D., Professor Emeritus, died peacefully at his home on December 8, 2004. He had been ill for several years with amyloidosis and congestive heart failure.
Mike was born in Wichita, Kansas on November 13, 1937. He was the son of the late Charles W. Miller and Patricia Gaines Talbott of Charlottesville. Mike is survived by his devoted wife of 41 years, Lorna D. (Derry) Miller and his daughter, Heather Miller Coons and her husband Mark, of Charlotte, N.C. and his son Sean Andrew Miller and his wife Susan of Charlottesville. Also surviving are two grandchildren: Hailey Lorna Coons and John Franklin Coons. Mike is survived by his brother Dr. William G. Talbott and his wife Polly and their four children: Lindsay, Wesley, Laurie and William and brother in law Dr. Donald Allen and Nancy of Windsor, Ontario and their sons Christopher and James.
Mike graduated from Wichita East High School and received a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1959. While at Dartmouth he was a member of the rugby team which went to England as part of President Eisenhower's People to People program; the Dartmouth team defeated almost all of the British teams. Mike earned his M.B.A from Harvard Business School in 1961 and taught finance at The University of Connecticut before working at The New England Merchants' National Bank in Boston.
Following his dream of becoming a physician, Mike graduated from The University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1969. While in medical school he served as president of his class, the first president of the Mulholland Society and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, The Raven Society and Omicron Delta Kappa. During his residency he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserve. Following the completion of his internship and residency in Orthopaedic Surgery, he joined the Orthopedic Faculty at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
In 1977 he began private practice at Martha Jefferson Hospital where he served as Chief of Surgery 1985-1987. In 1994 he returned to The University of Virginia Medical Center where he became Acting Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery from 1998 until he retired in 2001. He served as Medical Director, JCAHO Review for the Health Sciences Center in 1996.
Mike loved flying and was proud of earning his pilot's license including instrument certification. He was honored with the Outstanding Medical Alumnus Award by the University of Virginia in May 1993. Mike served on a number of boards including: St. Anne's Belfield School, the University of Virginia Medical School Foundation, Farmington Country Club and the Charlottesville Free Clinic.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The University of Virginia Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation, P. O. Box 800776, Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0776.
The family wishes to thank Dr. James Bergin, Dr. Kenneth Ballew, and Dr. Maureen Ross, Becky Mimms, R.N., Terri Goodwin, R.N. and all the wonderful caregivers who helped during Mike's long illness. Internment will be private for family only. We will celebrate Mike's life with a public service in January 2005."
Irony in a name
So my boyhood friend Mike Miller is really Charles W. Miller, apparently named after his father. But, it appears that everyone knew him as Mike. And that’s a good thing. I had another friend around the same time that lived several blocks away. I believe we met in Cub Scouts when his father was a scout leader in the area. This friend’s name was “shotgun”, at least that was his nickname, for what reason I can’t recall. We saw each other off and on over the years when we both ended up in Southern California. The irony is his given name was Charles W. West. Chuck, as I knew him later on, is also gone. Now I know there were two Charles W’s in my formative years, both making their own unique impression on my life.
Thank you for taking time to read this tribute. If you knew Mike, I hope you found this of some interest.
~Bill Coombs
I included these two clips with additional information.
From Dartmouth Alumni Magazine (Sept - Oct 2009)
Mike Miller’s widow, Lorna Derry Miller-Meyung, wrote a nice note when she sent a check to the Dartmouth Fund in his name. “Mike enjoyed being a member of the famous rugby team that went to England. He attended Harvard Business School and found his true career in medicine after med school at the University of Virginia. Mike was a skilled orthopedic surgeon but, sadly, died in December 2004. I regret that we never attended a class reunion.”
From The Harvard Crimson
Rugby Team Tops NYRC, November 9, 1959
The Crimson remained in complete domination for the rest of half, Mike Miller, John Van Schalwyk, and Holmes accounting for the final Crimson tries. Miller, who played for Dartmouth last spring, made the score 8 to 0 when he grabbed a pass and scampered 20 yards to the goal line. This was the only time during the afternoon when wing forward Jack Butterfield failed to convert. Holmes ended the half as he fell on the ball in the end zone after a quick dribbling rush.
BC
BC
No comments:
Post a Comment