Bert Miller: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Bertram "Bert" Miller''' (died [[2012]] in [[Montgomery]]) was a writer, film producer and a former member of the [[Birmingham City Council]]. He represented [[Birmingham City Council District 7|District 7]] from [[2001]] to [[2005]]. | [[Image:Bert Miller.JPG|right|thumb|Bert Miller]] | ||
'''Bertram Darryl "Bert" Miller''' (born c. [[1959]]; died [[2012]] in [[Montgomery]]) was a writer, film producer and a former member of the [[Birmingham City Council]]. He represented [[Birmingham City Council District 7|District 7]] from [[2001]] to [[2005]]. | |||
MIller grew up in [[Hillman Gardens]] and graduated from [[Wenonah High School]]. He earned an associates degree in business education from [[Lawson State Community College]] and a bachelor of science in military science from Mississippi Valley State University. He was involved for nine years with [[Birmingham City Schools]] community education programs. He was working as a waiter at [[Dreamland Bar-B-Que]] in [[Southside]] when he was elected to the City Council in [[2001 Birmingham City Council election|2001]], using the slogan "It's Miller Time!". | MIller grew up in [[Hillman Gardens]] and graduated from [[Wenonah High School]]. He earned an associates degree in business education from [[Lawson State Community College]] and a bachelor of science in military science from Mississippi Valley State University. He was involved for nine years with [[Birmingham City Schools]] community education programs. He spent some time as a porter for [[Pizitz]] at [[Brookwood Village]] and was working as a waiter at [[Dreamland Bar-B-Que]] in [[Southside]] when he was elected to the City Council in [[2001 Birmingham City Council election|2001]], using the slogan "It's Miller Time!". | ||
During his council tenure, Miller earned the nickname "The Money Man" for giving funds to residents to help with utility bills. From time to time he drew names from a fishbowl or held public events to distribute cash. He was also active in the [[Birmingham Film Commission]], which was created in [[2003]] and nominally expanded in [[2004]], soon after which it fell into limbo. | During his council tenure, Miller earned the nickname "The Money Man" for giving funds to residents to help with utility bills. From time to time he drew names from a fishbowl or held public events to distribute cash. He was also active in the [[Birmingham Film Commission]], which was created in [[2003]] and nominally expanded in [[2004]], soon after which it fell into limbo. | ||
In [[2004]] | In [[2004]] Miller declared personal bankruptcy. In [[2005]] the city's internal audit and compliance director recommended that he be investigated by the State Ethics Commission after it was discovered that $25,000 approved by the council to support a concert and workshops by Teen Rock International that never took place. He decided not to run again in the [[2005 Birmingham City Council election]], and said that he would write a book about his experience on the Council. | ||
A recording of Miller endorsing incumbent [[Valerie Abbott]] was mass-dialed to residents of [[Birmingham City Council District 3]] during that campaign. Though the calls originated from a machine operated by the Stuart Consulting Group in Metairie, Lousiana, the caller ID displayed Abbott's home telephone number. Her opponent in the race, [[Chris Hartsell]] has been associated with Stuart Consulting in his later role as Mayor [[Larry Langford]]'s chief of operations. | A recording of Miller endorsing incumbent [[Valerie Abbott]] was mass-dialed to residents of [[Birmingham City Council District 3]] during that campaign. Though the calls originated from a machine operated by the Stuart Consulting Group in Metairie, Lousiana, the caller ID displayed Abbott's home telephone number. Her opponent in the race, [[Chris Hartsell]] has been associated with Stuart Consulting in his later role as Mayor [[Larry Langford]]'s chief of operations. | ||
Miller was the host of "[[Off the Hook]]", a public access radio and television program aimed at teenagers. He | Miller was the host of "[[Off the Hook]]", a public access radio and television program aimed at teenagers. He also wrote and produced several dramas intended to address social issues. "[[High Five]]" concerned drug use and athletes, "[[Take Time]]" addressed adolescent concerns, and "[[Unconditional Love]]" involved the life of a person affected by Down syndrome. In [[2008]] Miller wrote and produced a play entitled "[[This is Real]]" which included an educational message about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. In [[2009]] he wrote and began producing a film entitled "[[She's Got Next]]" about an autistic girl who helps her father win poker games. | ||
Miller died in a Montgomery hospital following an extended illness. | Miller became a fixture at Dreamland Bar-B-Que's Montgomery location. He died in a Montgomery hospital following an extended illness. He was survived by his daughter, Elizabeth, and five siblings. After his funeral service at [[Hopewell Baptist Church]] he was buried at [[Zion Memorial Gardens]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Bert}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Bert}} | ||
[[Category:1959 births]] | |||
[[Category:2012 deaths]] | [[Category:2012 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Lawson State alumni]] | [[Category:Lawson State alumni]] | ||
| Line 28: | Line 30: | ||
[[Category:Film producers]] | [[Category:Film producers]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham City Council]] | [[Category:Birmingham City Council]] | ||
[[Category:Zion Memorial Gardens burials]] | |||
Latest revision as of 13:59, 5 August 2012
Bertram Darryl "Bert" Miller (born c. 1959; died 2012 in Montgomery) was a writer, film producer and a former member of the Birmingham City Council. He represented District 7 from 2001 to 2005.
MIller grew up in Hillman Gardens and graduated from Wenonah High School. He earned an associates degree in business education from Lawson State Community College and a bachelor of science in military science from Mississippi Valley State University. He was involved for nine years with Birmingham City Schools community education programs. He spent some time as a porter for Pizitz at Brookwood Village and was working as a waiter at Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Southside when he was elected to the City Council in 2001, using the slogan "It's Miller Time!".
During his council tenure, Miller earned the nickname "The Money Man" for giving funds to residents to help with utility bills. From time to time he drew names from a fishbowl or held public events to distribute cash. He was also active in the Birmingham Film Commission, which was created in 2003 and nominally expanded in 2004, soon after which it fell into limbo.
In 2004 Miller declared personal bankruptcy. In 2005 the city's internal audit and compliance director recommended that he be investigated by the State Ethics Commission after it was discovered that $25,000 approved by the council to support a concert and workshops by Teen Rock International that never took place. He decided not to run again in the 2005 Birmingham City Council election, and said that he would write a book about his experience on the Council.
A recording of Miller endorsing incumbent Valerie Abbott was mass-dialed to residents of Birmingham City Council District 3 during that campaign. Though the calls originated from a machine operated by the Stuart Consulting Group in Metairie, Lousiana, the caller ID displayed Abbott's home telephone number. Her opponent in the race, Chris Hartsell has been associated with Stuart Consulting in his later role as Mayor Larry Langford's chief of operations.
Miller was the host of "Off the Hook", a public access radio and television program aimed at teenagers. He also wrote and produced several dramas intended to address social issues. "High Five" concerned drug use and athletes, "Take Time" addressed adolescent concerns, and "Unconditional Love" involved the life of a person affected by Down syndrome. In 2008 Miller wrote and produced a play entitled "This is Real" which included an educational message about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. In 2009 he wrote and began producing a film entitled "She's Got Next" about an autistic girl who helps her father win poker games.
Miller became a fixture at Dreamland Bar-B-Que's Montgomery location. He died in a Montgomery hospital following an extended illness. He was survived by his daughter, Elizabeth, and five siblings. After his funeral service at Hopewell Baptist Church he was buried at Zion Memorial Gardens.
References
- Godbey, Paul (September 21, 2004) "Interview with David Ricker, Birmingham Film Commission member" Reelscene News
- Pelfrey, David (August 11, 2005) "Dead City Diary" column. Black & White
- Reynolds, Ed (December 1, 2005) "Changing of the Guard". City Hall column. Black & White
- Whitmire, Kyle (February 19, 2008) "Langford consultant has tricky ties, and also an address at the Pita Stop building." Birmingham Weekly
- Folasade, John (June 28, 2008) "Play opening in Birmingham on Saturday to highlight dangers of HIV and AIDS." The Birmingham News
- Carlton, Bob (February 20, 2009) "Birmingham Film Needs Actors, Extras." The Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (August 1, 2012) "Former Birmingham City Councilman Bert Miller dies in Montgomery." The Birmingham News