Miller bequeaths $1 million-plus gift to UW-RF; school’s biggest-ever

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UW-River Falls announced late Tuesday that well-known newspaperman, historian and philanthropist Willis H. Miller left the university $1,068,552, the largest gift in the school’s 135-year history. Miller died Nov. 16 last year.

According to a UW-RF news release, the money will be used to establish endowed scholarships, giving preference to students from Hudson, North Hudson and their surrounding towns – Hudson, St. Joseph and Troy. The university honors his memory and gift at an Aug. 26 luncheon.

The news release deems Miller, former publisher of the Hudson Star Observer, a “lifelong friend” of the university. It says the relationship began when the philanthropist took a summer class there in 1939.

Eventually he served on the foundation board of directors and with the now-defunct University Press Committee.

UW-RF Chancellor Dean Van Galen said, “On behalf of the UW-River Falls community, I want to express deep gratitude for Mr. Willis Miller’s tremendous commitment to the university. The gift from Mr. Miller’s estate is truly historic, not only because it is the most generous gift in UW-RF’s 135-year history, but because of the impact it will have on our university and its students. By establishing a scholarship endowment through the UW-RF Foundation, Mr. Miller has left a legacy of providing opportunity for our students for years to come. Our commitment at UW-River Falls will be to ensure that we are good stewards of these resources and that we thoughtfully honor

Mr. Miller’s wishes.”

Tags: local news, willis miller, uw river falls, news, bequest