Dates

• Existence: 1906-05-23 - 1993-05-04

Biography

David Miller was born on May 23, 1906 to Jacob and Katherina Margaret (Walker) Miller in Loveland, Colorado. He received a bachelor's degree 1929 and a law degree in 1932, both from the University of Colorado, and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1933. He served as an attorney for the Federal Land Bank in Wichita and the Denver Joint Stock Land Bank of Denver prior to opening a law office in Greeley, Colorado. He practiced law in Greeley from 1939 until his retirement in 1987.

David J. and Lydia Alles were married on August 13, 1933 on the Alles family farm and lived there until her death in 1992.

Miller had a special interest in irrigation and water law and became involved in a cases involving dissolution of Colorado irrigation districts and transmountain water diversion from the Western to the Eastern slopes of Colorado. Miller donated his papers related to irrigation and water to Archival Services. For more information, see: David Miller Water Collection (SC002).

Miller donated materials to Archival Services related to the time he spent on Gen. Lucius Clay's legal staff in Berlin, Germany, with the Office of Military Governments and the Intelligence Division in Nurenberg and Bad Nauheum during 1948-1949. For more information, see: David Miller Nurenberg Collection (SC003).

The Millers became interested in rammed earth techniques after seeing an article in American Home in 1937. Three years later they met, J. Palmer Boggs, an architect who also expressed an interest in Rammed earth techniques. The Millers and Boggs began construction on their first rammed earth home in 1945. They teamed together again in 1949 to build the Miller's home. By 1981 there were six rammed earth homes in the Alles Acre subdivision in Greeley, Colorado.

David J. and Lydia Miller were nationally recognized experts on rammed earth buildings. They organized the Rammed Earth Institute International, a non-profit organization that promoted rammed earth techniques. They also were founding members of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. The Millers were also members of World Peace Through Law, and Habitat for Humanity, the First Congregational Church and St. Paul's Congregational Church. The Millers were also members of World Peace Through Law, and Habitat for Humanity, the First Congregational Church and St. Paul's Congregational Church.

David Miller was a member of the Weld County, Colorado, American Bar Associations. And a charter member of the Dean's Club at the University of Colorado School of Law. He was active with the Democratic Party, serving as Weld County's chairman in 1940-141. He ran as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado Attorney General and Colorado Lieutenant Governor. He served on the Colorado Conservation Board and Missouri Basin Interagency Committee. He was a member of Occidental Lodge No. 20 A.F. & A.M., Denver Consistory of Scottish Rites, El Jebel Temple, and Greeley Shrine Club.

David J. Miller passed away on May 4, 1993.

Citation:

Cress, Lois. "27-Year-Old House Solid as the Earth." Denver Post, Nov. 12, 1977, pp. 17, 19. Hynes, Mary. "Leaving a Life of Law." Greeley Tribune, Sept. 25, 1986, pp. B11-B12. Nelson, Susan. "Built with a Purpose: Four Views of Energy Efficient Homes." Greeley Style Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 2, April/May 1988, pp. 24-25. "Obituaries: David J. Miller," Greeley Tribune, May 7, 1993, p. A4. "Obituaries: Lydia Miller," Greeley Tribune, Apr. 25, 1992, p. A4. Seelmeyer, John. "Greeley Couple Spreads Home-building Gospel." Greeley Tribune, Oct. 22, 1981, p. E-1.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: