September 03, 1997
The Texas A&M football team has lost a longtime friend in Ralph Miller, who died of heart failure Tuesday night at the age of 76.
Miller, who has been associated with Aggie Football since 1950, served as the practice timer for more than the past 15 seasons. During that time, Miller also assisted the equipment staff in practice and game preparation, while enjoying a superb rapport with generations of players, coaches and support staff members. Since 1950, he as also been a part of, or arranged the chain crew for home football games.
"He made a significant, positive contribution to the Texas A&M Athletic Department and to the football program," Associate Athletic Director for Facilities Billy Pickard said. "He will truly be missed."
Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at A&M United Methodist Church in College Station.
Six A&M football players will serve as pall bearers during the services. They are Kyle Bryant, Daniel Campbell, Brad Crowley, Thadd Hargett, Steve McKinney and Chris Ruhman.
Miller served the University for many years in the Farm Services department. During World War II, Miller was a C-47 pilot and "flew the hump," a mountain range between Burma and China.
Miller, who was born in 1921, had been suffering from numerous illnesses during the past year, which forced him from being a part of the day-to-day activities with the football team.