Ray Miller (Texas journalist)
Encyclopedia
Ray Elvin Miller was the creator and host of The Eyes of Texas
(1969–1999), a television
anthology series, syndicated
through KPRC-TV
, the NBC
outlet in Houston
. A native of Fort Worth
, Miller began his career in radio
there in 1938 and thereafter relocated to Houston. In 1951, KPRC Radio bought the first television station in Houston, which became Channel 2, owned by the Hobby family. Miller was known for his journalistic intensity, black horn rim glasses, and an elegant speaking voice in his narration of the history
and culture
of Texas.
program, Texas Country Reporter
, hosted from Dallas
by Bob Phillips
.
On his retirement from television, Miller became a chronicler of Houston. He wrote ten books, Eyes of Texas travel guides and other works on historic attractions in Houston and nearby Galveston
. One of his best known books is Ray Miller's Houston, published in 1992.
Miller joined the staff of Harris County
Precinct 3 County Commissioner Steve Radack, a Republican, who described Miller as "so compassionate, loyal, had an incredible ability to give people inspiration to live." Radack appointed Miller to head special projects, many of which served senior citizens. Miller was still skiing well into his eighties, Radack said.
In 1979, Miller retired as Channel 2 news director, but he continued to work as the host of another series Ray Miller's Texas until the late 1980s. In 1999, veteran journalist Ron Stone
succeeded Miller as host of The Eyes of Texas. Stone died some five months before Miller. Ray Miller also worked with the Harris County Historical Commission to procure historical markers for several sites. Miller donated his extensive book collection to Harris County.
During his storied career, Miller served as a mentor to hundreds of journalists, including former CBS anchorman Dan Rather
and United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
, a Texas Republican who was the first female television newswoman in Texas. Rather said that Miller was "so honest that you could shoot dice with him over the phone." In a prepared statement, Hutchison said that Miller "gave me my first job, taking a chance on a new law school graduate who had never had a class in journalism. I learned more from him than I could have ever imagined possible. He impacted me in many ways: to strive for excellence, to be the very best, never take 'no' for an answer."
Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas
said that "The Pulitzer prize
would not mean as much to me as that approval from my mentor Ray Miller."
, Miller met his wife, the former Veronica Gray (1921–2008), a native of Australia
. He also served in the Korean War
and covered the Vietnam War
for KRPC. The couple had two sons, the late Geoffrey Miller and Gray Hampton Miller (born 1948), a United States District Judge in Houston, appointed in 2006 by U.S. President George W. Bush
. Miller died of natural causes after a lengthy illness; Mrs Miller succumbed at the age of eighty-seven on August 27, 2008, exactly one month before her husband's passing. Services were held on October 3, 2008, at St. Michael's Catholic
Church in Houston. Interment was in Glenwood Cemetery
in Houston.
Miller received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
from the University of Houston
. The Texas Association of Broadcasters designated him as a "Pioneer Broadcaster." While at KPRC, he won a Peabody Award
, the broadcast equivalent of a Pulitzer Prize
. He was a Knight of San Jacinto
. The Texas State Legislature named him a "Texas Legend".
Radack proposed the naming of Ray Miller Park at 1800 Eldridge Parkway in west Houston and presided over the dedication ceremony. Meanwhile, a new version of The Eyes of Texas has returned to the Channel 2 lineup. Repeats of Miller's series run on KUHT-TV, as the archival series Texas: Our Texas.
Houston newsman Dave Ward recalls Miller as "a true professional. He wasn't an easy man to work for. He demanded excellence. . . . He usually got his way. He was a great news director in television. The Houston market was very lucky to have him."
The Eyes of Texas (TV series)
The Eyes of Texas is a long-running regional television series which aired original episodes from 1969—1999. The program focused on unique people, events and places throughout the state of Texas. It was produced and syndicated by KPRC-TV & Stonefilms , both in Houston...
(1969–1999), a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
anthology series, syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
through KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV is the NBC affiliated television station based in Houston, Texas, and serving the Greater Houston television market. It has studios located in the Sharpstown district on the Southwest portion of the city, and has a transmitter site in unincorporated Fort Bend County near Missouri City...
, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
outlet in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. A native of Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Miller began his career in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
there in 1938 and thereafter relocated to Houston. In 1951, KPRC Radio bought the first television station in Houston, which became Channel 2, owned by the Hobby family. Miller was known for his journalistic intensity, black horn rim glasses, and an elegant speaking voice in his narration of the history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
of Texas.
The Eyes of Texas
The Eyes of Texas examines such topics as unique Texas residents and out-of-the-way attractions. It remains the longest-running local program in the history of the Houston television market. In addition to his anthology, Miller was the news director at both KPRC radio and television for more than four decades.The Eyes of Texas may be considered as a model for the long-running syndicatedTelevision syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
program, Texas Country Reporter
Texas Country Reporter
Texas Country Reporter is a weekly syndicated television program hosted and produced by Bob Phillips. It airs in all 22 Texas media markets, generally on weekends, and reruns are broadcast nationally on the satellite/cable channel RFD-TV...
, hosted from Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
by Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips
Robert Leon Phillips, known as Bob Phillips , is an American television journalist best known for his long-running program Texas Country Reporter...
.
On his retirement from television, Miller became a chronicler of Houston. He wrote ten books, Eyes of Texas travel guides and other works on historic attractions in Houston and nearby Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. One of his best known books is Ray Miller's Houston, published in 1992.
Miller joined the staff of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
Precinct 3 County Commissioner Steve Radack, a Republican, who described Miller as "so compassionate, loyal, had an incredible ability to give people inspiration to live." Radack appointed Miller to head special projects, many of which served senior citizens. Miller was still skiing well into his eighties, Radack said.
In 1979, Miller retired as Channel 2 news director, but he continued to work as the host of another series Ray Miller's Texas until the late 1980s. In 1999, veteran journalist Ron Stone
Ron Stone (reporter)
Ron Stone was an American news anchor at KPRC-TV in Houston, Texas for 20 years from 1972 to 1992. He was called "the most popular and revered news anchor the city has ever known" by...
succeeded Miller as host of The Eyes of Texas. Stone died some five months before Miller. Ray Miller also worked with the Harris County Historical Commission to procure historical markers for several sites. Miller donated his extensive book collection to Harris County.
Mentoring other journalists
In 1976, Miller hired then 25-year-old Phil Archer as a KPRC reporter. Archer recalls that Miller had "incredible intellect, practically glowed in the dark. . . . To be hired by Ray Miller was like winning the lottery. He was just the best." Archer noted too that Miller viewed journalism as a higher calling and as a public service, Archer said. Mike Capps said that Miller was "the epitome of a hard-line newsman. He was spit, polish and shine."During his storied career, Miller served as a mentor to hundreds of journalists, including former CBS anchorman Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
and United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, known as Kay Bailey Hutchison , is the senior United States Senator from Texas.She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of the thirty most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. The first woman to represent Texas in the U.S....
, a Texas Republican who was the first female television newswoman in Texas. Rather said that Miller was "so honest that you could shoot dice with him over the phone." In a prepared statement, Hutchison said that Miller "gave me my first job, taking a chance on a new law school graduate who had never had a class in journalism. I learned more from him than I could have ever imagined possible. He impacted me in many ways: to strive for excellence, to be the very best, never take 'no' for an answer."
Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas
Cal Thomas
John Calvin "Cal" Thomas is an American conservative syndicated columnist, pundit, author and radio commentator.-Life and career:...
said that "The Pulitzer prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
would not mean as much to me as that approval from my mentor Ray Miller."
Family and legacy
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Miller met his wife, the former Veronica Gray (1921–2008), a native of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He also served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and covered the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
for KRPC. The couple had two sons, the late Geoffrey Miller and Gray Hampton Miller (born 1948), a United States District Judge in Houston, appointed in 2006 by U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Miller died of natural causes after a lengthy illness; Mrs Miller succumbed at the age of eighty-seven on August 27, 2008, exactly one month before her husband's passing. Services were held on October 3, 2008, at St. Michael's Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Church in Houston. Interment was in Glenwood Cemetery
Glenwood Cemetery (Houston, Texas)
The Glenwood Cemetery is located at 2525 Washington Avenue in Houston, Texas. It was the first cemetery in Houston to be professionally designed and opened in 1871. The cemetery is situated between Washington Avenue on the North side and Memorial Drive on the South side, the latter overlooking...
in Houston.
Miller received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. The Texas Association of Broadcasters designated him as a "Pioneer Broadcaster." While at KPRC, he won a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
, the broadcast equivalent of a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
. He was a Knight of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
. The Texas State Legislature named him a "Texas Legend".
Radack proposed the naming of Ray Miller Park at 1800 Eldridge Parkway in west Houston and presided over the dedication ceremony. Meanwhile, a new version of The Eyes of Texas has returned to the Channel 2 lineup. Repeats of Miller's series run on KUHT-TV, as the archival series Texas: Our Texas.
Houston newsman Dave Ward recalls Miller as "a true professional. He wasn't an easy man to work for. He demanded excellence. . . . He usually got his way. He was a great news director in television. The Houston market was very lucky to have him."