James Bernard Miller was inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Born in Montreal on Feb. 20, 1932, he studied commerce from 1949 to 1953. A defensive end on the Redmen football team, he played three seasons on the senior squad and was an all-star in 1952.
Not only was he outstanding in football, he won three consecutive Canadian intercollegiate boxing heavyweight championships (1951-53).
He represented McGill and Quebec at the 1952 Canadian boxing championships and Olympic trials in Vancouver. He was also the 1953 Quebec Golden Gloves heavyweight champion.
Drafted by the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, Miller played with them from 1953-58, including three consecutive Grey Cup appearances (1954-56). He was named a Canadian Press Big Four all-star in 1956 and was inducted to the YMHA Hall of Fame in 2001.
"Undoubtedly, Jimmy will go down in McGill athletic history as one of the school’s outstanding fighters, but his talent does not end there," wrote Bob Bornstein in a 1953 McGill Daily article. "Miller is one of the finest ends in the senior intercollegiate football league."
Jimmy Miller was an all-star defensive lineman who went on to play for the Alouettes from 1953 to 1958. The six-foot, 218-pounder was also a three-time intercollegiate heavyweight boxing champion and won a Quebec Golden Gloves heavyweight title in 1953.
UNIVERSITY SPORTS INVOLVEMENT & AWARDS:
* was a 5-foot-11.5, 218-pound defensive end, he was an all-star with McGill in 1952
* played intermediate football in 1949 and senior football from 1950 to 1952
* won 3 consecutive Canadian intercollegiate boxing heavyweight championships (1951-53)
* represented McGill and Quebec at 1952 Canadian boxing championships and Olympic trials in Vancouver (in the semifinal first round, he was leading by a large margin but lost on a TKO when suffering a cut after bumping heads with his opponent)
* represented McGill and was the Quebec Golden Gloves boxing heavyweight champion (1953)
RELATED RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENTS OUTSIDE McGILL ATHLETIC CAREER:
* drafted by the Montreal Alouettes and played with them from 1953-58, including three consecutive Grey Cup appearances (1954-56); his football card described him as "One of the greatest athletes to ever attend McGill"
* named to the Canadian Press Big Four all-star in 1956
* was inducted to the YMHA Hall of Fame (Oct. 2001)
* after leaving McGill , at age 21 he managed an appliance company (Dany Corporation) which manufactured compact refrigerators and ranges; he sold the company in 1972 and since 1982, has been managing Miller Properties, a real estate business with properties in Quebec Ontario and USA.
RELEVANT EXCERPTS FROM PRESS CLIPPINGS:
* QUOTE from Nov. 1955 Montreal Star article by Fred Roberts: "It isn't very often that you'll find (Coach Peahead) Walker extolling the merits of one of his charges, but he did have a few kind words to say about Jimmy Miller, the kid who never makes the headlines but plays steady ball from week to week. Said the coach, 'Miller's the most under-rated player in the league. I defy you or anybody else to find a better defensive end in the league than Miller this year. He's done everything we've asked of him and he's done it well.'"
* QUOTE from Feb. 1953 McGill Daily newspaper article by Bob Bornstein: "Undoubtedly, Jimmy will go down in McGill athletic history as one of the school's outstanding fighters, but his talent does not end there... Miller is one of the finest ends in the senior intercollegiate football league. A tribute to his ability is the fact that the Montreal Alouettes lost no time in drafting him recently and Jimmy will make his bid for a place on the team next fall. A fourth-year Commerce student, Miller has shown talent in many other fields as well. He is a basketball player of note, and under able coaching, could develop into a sound baseball performer... He has developed into a fine athlete by buckling down to practice and his record speaks for itself. Vic Obeck and Bert Light, who handle him in football and boxing, will attest to his conduct in the sports realm...Since this is Miller's graduating year, he should be considered an outstanding candidate for the Forbes trophy, McGill's top athletic honor..."
