George J Miller, a national recognized leader in the field of Geography, was bom in Sturgis, Michigan on 7 February 1880. He attended Michigan State Normal School in Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduated in June 1900. After teaching for a few years. Miller retumed to school in 1908 and received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Chicago. While at the University of Chicago, he taught classes in the School of Education and led a summer camping trip out West for young men. In 1913, Miller accepted a position at the Mankato Normal School in Mankato, Miimesota where he taught Geography until 1948. Upon leaving Mankato State Teachers College, Miller joined the faculty at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. He retired firom teaching in 1951.

While teaching was a large aspect of his professional life, George J Miller was also very active in other professional pursuits. He was very involved in research and writing of professional books and papers. Miller traveled throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada on field trips. Much of his research involved field notes and photographs of his destinations. As a writer, he wrote numerous works including co-authoring the college textbook. The Geography ofNorth America. There were three editions of this textbook published between 1928 and 1954. He worked with Dr. Ahnon E. Parkins for the first two editions and Dr. Bert Hudgins for the third. In addition to the textbook, he wrote a pamphlet series called "Essentials of Geography" and numerous other articles on a variety of subjects.

Another area of interest for Miller in the field of Geography was professional organizations. He was involved with several organizations, but most of his time was spent working with the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). The NCGE was started in 1914 by George J Miller, and Raymond H. Whitbeck, of the University of Wisconsin, to fill a gap in the field of geographic education. The idea gained support nationally. The first meeting of the organization was held on 31 December 1915. Originally called the National Council for Geography Teachers, Miller served as the organizations Secretary fi-om 1916-1929, Vice-President in 1932 and President in 1933. He also acted as editor of the Journal of Geography from 1920-1949 and assistant editor for two additional years. In 1938, Miller was awarded the distinguished service award by the NCGE. In 1975, they named the award after him, in honor of his work wdth the organization.

In 1907, George Miller married Eula Selbom Flint withh whom he had one daughter, Melba. In 1956, a few years after George Miller retired, Eula Miller died. George married E(dith) Joan Miller a Geography lecturer at Indiana University in 1958. Soon after their marriage, the Millers moved to Illinois where Dr. (E. Joan) Miller taught Geography at Illinois State University. On 23 July 1973 George J Miller died in Normal, Illinois at the age of ninety-three.

NOTE: George J Miller did not have a middle name. The letter J is not an abbreviation and therefore is not punctuated.