Dates

• Existence: 1944 - 2009

Biography

Larry H. Miller (1944-2009) was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz, the Salt Lake Bees, and owned 53 automotive dealerships throughout the western United States, as well as various other business.

Larry H. Miller was born as Lawrence Horne West in 1944 to to Mary Lorille Horne and Howard Hanley West. His parents divorced in 1946, and in June 1948 his mother married Frank Soren Miller. Larry was legally adopted by his stepfather in September 1949 and his last name was changed to Miller. Following his graduation from West High School, Miller was employed in construction by his uncle, William Reid Horne, until 1964, when he went to work for American Auto Parts. Softball and drag racing, two of his interests, helped launch careers in sports and automobiles. From 1963 to 1970, Miller raced cars, and from 1962 to 1985 he was an outstanding fast-pitch softball player, pitching in the Salt Lake City and Denver metro leagues. In 1976, he became a parts manager and later manager of the parts and service departments for a Utah auto dealer. In 1970, he moved to Denver to play softball and work as a parts manager for two Toyota dealerships. In 1978, he was promoted to operations manager over five Toyota stores. He later became the owner of NBA's Utah Jazz, the Salt Lake Bees, and owned 53 automotive dealerships throughout the western United States, as well as various other business. Miller married his high school sweetheart, Karen Gail Saxton, on March 25, 1965. They are the parents of five children. Miller passed away in 2009.

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