Alexander Clinton Miller, or Clint, as he was called, was born in Oklahoma on this day in 1879. He came to Winston-Salem with his family in 1884, and attended the local schools.
Clint graduated from UNC and from the Business School at Poughkeepsie, New York.
He first worked for Wachovia Bank and Trust Company in Winston-Salem, then moved to New York and worked for a bank in that city. He returned to Winston-Salem to manage his father’s interests in this city and in Oklahoma.
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made several visits by air to cities all across the United States. Winston-Salem’s airfield, Maynard Field, was not large enough to receive Lindbergh, so a drive was underway to build a new field for the growing interest in air travel.
Clint Miller made the first major contribution toward this larger airfield, and donated approximately $20,000 to purchase equipment for the landing field. This donation came right before Lindbergh’s visit to Winston-Salem. The airfield was named Miller Field, in his honor. He received the distinguished service award by the Chamber of Commerce for his generous contribution.
Shortly afterward, R. E. Lasater donated the land where the landing field was located.
The airport was later named Smith Reynolds Airport.
Miller also gave land in Ardmore to the city to be used as a park, and the park was named Miller Park in his honor. Miller Park opened in 1942, and the park itself was built as a WPA project, with sponsor funds donated by private citizens.
The park consisted of 32 acres, with three picnic shelters with ovens, tables, lights and water. It also had pavilions, baseball diamonds, an amphitheater, tennis courts, basketball court, bowling alleys, concession buildings, a tool house, children’s play equipment, a concrete skating rink, a wading pool, horseshoe courts, sand boxes, surfaced walks, bridges, fountains, parking areas, and landscaping.
Miller also made monetary donations to a variety of charities. He passed away in 1948.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
