Thursday, April 9, 2009
Hannan / Media Dan Miller, 1941-2009
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Save for five years in Hollywood, during which time he served as his former WSM colleague Pat Sajak's announcer and foil on CBS late night's The Pat Sajak Show, Miller made his name here in Nashville. As news anchor for Channel 4, a post he held for nearly 30 years, Miller won multiple Emmys and was a perennial favorite for the city's Best Anchor award.
Miller was stricken while walking yesterday with Channel 4 sports director Rudy Kalis and reporter Terry Bulger. The three had spent the day watching Master's practice rounds in Augusta.
Miller and his friend and co-anchor Demetria Kalodimos made one of the most formidable anchor teams in the city's broadcast-news history. On the WSMV website, Kalodimos said of Miller's last day:
"(Dan) had talked for weeks about visiting a practice round of the Masters and then walking the streets of his old neighborhood, and that's exactly what Dan was doing last night when he collapsed...Rudy said they had had the best day of their lives on the course at Augusta, so if there is any comfort this morning for those of us in the Channel 4 family, and all of Nashville who so loved Dan Miller, it's that he was doing something that he loved when he left us."Just four days after the death of former Banner editor Eddie Jones, it's safe to say Nashville journalism has suffered grave and historic losses this week. As you might imagine, WSMV is all over this, and our condolences go out to his co-workers and loved ones. If you ever met Miller personally, or just enjoyed watching him over the past three decades, please share your thoughts below.
Update: Kalodimos was nice enough to return a phone call. Obviously still in shock, she said she'd been ribbing Miller for the past couple weeks about his return to Augusta. He, Kalis and Bulger had taken a similar pilgrimage last year and according to Kalodimos they'd been talking about going back ever since. Last night, before Miller died, she posted "Now I don't have to hear about this trip anymore!" on his Facebook wall. Partners for 20 years, Kalodimos and Miller did their last broadcast together Friday at 10 PM.
Comments (8)
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The nightly conversations before the weather on Channel 4 between Dan Miller and Bill Hall did more to promote race relations in Nashville than anything else. For most Middle Tennesseans it was the first time they'd ever seen two professionals of opposite race working together. Dan's friendly and welcoming demeanor helped a lot of older folks be comfortable with an African-American on TV and with African-Americans in general. Dan will be missed.
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Pat is right.
Right now I feel a little like I imagine Don MacLean felt in writing his song about Buddy Holly. For Nashville, this is the day the news died.
I'm a Nashville transplant. Something about Dan's charm and tenderheartedness made me feel right at home.
One of the smallest but strangest things about moving to a new state was how different the local news was.
Dan and Demetria were instant favorites. They literally became a part of our home. And we watched regularly.
I'm so sad today. I know that Nashville will be missing Dan tonight and for a long time to come....
Russellville Kentucky will miss you soo much Dan Miller!
Love and prayers too your Family.
I heard it over and over again today- Dan's passing away almost like losing a member of the family. Dan and DK are/were an institution in Middle Tennessee. As my Granddaddy would say- It's the end of an era. Our thoughts and prayer go out to the Miller family and his Channel 4 co-workers.
I too am a transplant. I grew up in DC and went to Sewanee and fell in love with Tennessee over 20 years ago. Dan was so great - that twinkle in his eye was always telling you he was up to something.If there were tornadoes or a crazed lunatic on the loose there is no one you would want telling you about it than him.
