Clyde L. Miller (January 1, 1910 – September 14, 1988)[1][2] was a Democratic politician who was the first lieutenant governor of Utah. He remains the only Democrat to have served in this position.

Clyde L. Miller
1st Lieutenant Governor of Utah
In office
1975 – January 3, 1977
GovernorCal Rampton
Succeeded byDavid Smith Monson
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
In office
1951–1952
Member of the Utah Senate
Personal details
Born(1910-01-01)January 1, 1910
DiedSeptember 14, 1988(1988-09-14) (aged 78)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Utah

Biography edit

Miller was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He began his involvement with politics at age 18, when he distributed materials in support of Democrat Al Smith's 1928 presidential campaign against Republican Herbert Hoover. He then held various leadership positions in the Utah Democratic Party and the Young Democrats of America and in city government.[2]

From 1951 to 1952 Miller served in the Utah House of Representatives. Afterward he was elected to the Utah State Senate, representing the 4th Senate District in Salt Lake City. He was Senate Democratic Whip in 1961.[2]

Miller began serving as Utah's Secretary of State in 1965. From 1974 to 1975 he served as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.[3] In 1976, the Utah Legislature passed a law that replaced the office of Secretary of State with the office of Lieutenant Governor.[4] Miller thus served as the first Lieutenant Governor of Utah from 1976 to 1977, when his term ended. Miller was part of the administration of popular three-term Governor Cal Rampton.[5]

At the time, the Lieutenant Governor's duties included serving as superintendent of the Capitol grounds. In this capacity, Miller ordered Capitol guards to keep their guns but not carry any bullets.[6]

Miller died in 1988 at the age of 78.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Social Security Death Index record at "Clyde L Miller". Footnote. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  2. ^ a b c d "C.L. Miller, Utah's 1st Lieutenant Governor, Dies". Deseret News. September 15, 1988. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  3. ^ Gardner, Bill (2009) [2004]. "Past Presidents". Pillars of Public Service: One Hundred Years of the National Association of Secretaries of State, 1904–2004 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Association of Secretaries of State. p. 159. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  4. ^ "Utah Code". Archived from the original on 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  5. ^ http://db3-sql.staff.library.utah.edu/lucene/Manuscripts/null/Ms0571.xml/complete[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Frank Pignanelli (2005-05-01). "Should Utah eliminate office of lieutenant governor?". Deseret Morning News.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by
None
Lieutenant Governor of Utah
1975–1977
Succeeded by