Miller, Milton D. (Milton Davis), 1911-

Biography

Milton Davis Miller (1911-d.?) was born in Melmont, Washington in 1911 and later moved to Huntington Park, California with his parents. After his high school graduation in 1928, Miller continued his education at the University of California, Davis, where he received his bachelor's degree and a master's degree in agronomy.

In 1936, Miller was appointed Extension Farm Adviser in Ventura County, California. He held this position until 1941, when he took military leave to serve in the United States Army. During his four years serving in World War II, Miller was stationed in Australia, where he served as Technical Adviser to the United States Army and to the Australian government on food production. Miller ultimately rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After the war, Miller returned to agricultural extension service in California. He was assigned to the University of California, Davis (known at the time as the College of Agriculture at Davis) as Coordinating Extension Agronomy Specialist. His field assignments were in production of forage seed and in rangeland improvement. In 1949 Miller transferred to Glenn County, California, where he re-established the County Extension Service. Miller continued his work on forage seed and rangeland improvement and began work on rice culture, which would become the major focus of his career.

Miller left Glenn County in 1955 and returned to the University of California, Davis. From 1955 to 1964 he served as Extension Agronomist, was named assistant state director in 1964, and in 1966 at his request was once again Extension Agronomist. From 1966 to his retirement in 1974, Miller had state-wide Extension responsibilities for the University of California in rice, oilseed crops, and applied research on plant growth regulators. He was also appointed Unit Coordinator for the University of California's Extension programs.

In 1966, Miller was part of a team of University of California scientists that went to Thailand to aid Kasetsart University in developing its agricultural research and education programs. Miller also helped to train Peace Corps volunteers for three years. From 1971 to 1974, Miller worked with the Development and Resources Corporation to help design a twelve-year rice research program for Iran. In 1975, Miller served in Romania as a consultant to the World Bank and undertook a complete review of Romania's agricultural sector. In 1977, Miller was in Egypt as the Crop Specialist member of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Study Task Force.

Source: Milton D. and Mary M. Miller Fellowship Fund brochure, Milton D. Miller Papers, D-043, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.

From the guide to the Milton D. Miller Papers, 1939-1992, (University of California, Davis. General Library. Department of Special Collections.)