By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Miller

BELLEVUE - James W. "Jim" Miller died doing what he lived to do - ministering to the needs of United Auto Workers members.

The UAW Local 863 president was at the union hall, watering tomato plants, when he collapsed Monday. It was but one of countless labors of love he performed for his fellow autoworkers.

The cause of death has not been determined, but Mr. Miller was known to have a heart condition. The Bellevue resident was 61.

He grew up in Overpeck in St. Clair Township in Butler County and was educated in the New Miami Schools.

In 1966, at age 24, he went to work on the production line at the Ford Motor Co.'s Sharonville Transmission Plant.

Before the decade was over, he would be laid off from his job and running for his first office - that of district committeeman.

He won that office and was so dedicated and popular that he was elected UAW plant chairman three years later.

During his first presidency in the late 1970s, Mr. Miller endeared himself to his colleagues by tirelessly serving their interests. He was known to track down homeless, laid-off workers to give them money out of his own pocket and to make other personal sacrifices.

When his first presidency ended, Mr. Miller was appointed employee resource representative for the Sharonville plant.

Although diagnosed with heart disease, he accepted the presidency again a year ago.

"Most men would have taken the easy way out and eased into retirement," said Johnny Roberson, a longtime colleague. Most "surely wouldn't have stepped into the caldron of 16-hour days - the constant round-the-clock calls and pressure."

Mr. Miller kept his health concerns a secret and continued to do what he always did - he gave his all and "defined the meaning of unionism for all of us," Roberson said.

Survivors include his fiancee, Kathy Grogan; two daughters, Melissa Myers of Trenton and Tracy Vest of Liberty Township; a stepdaughter, Joanna McGuire of Goshen; a sister, Shirley Caudill of Hamilton; four grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the UAW Local 863, 10708 Reading Road in Evendale. The funeral is 10 a.m. Friday at Colligan Funeral Home, 437 S. Third St., Hamilton. Burial is at Hickory Flats Cemetery in St. Clair Township.

Memorials: James W. Miller Scholarship Fund, UAW Local 863, 10708 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com