Renaissance Man
Remembering Charter Member Ralph H. Miller, Ph.D. (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967)
This is written to all our young brothers; particularly, those who are founding colonies, building a chapter from the ground up, or rebuilding a struggling chapter. Our late brother Ralph H. Miller, Ph.D. (1944-2018), would want you to know how lucky you are, as we retell his story here.
“Ralph was a fellow member of the Alpha pledge class of Zeta Xi Chapter … one of the original founding members,” John Hodgson (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967) remembered. Ralph recruited many of the original founders. He came to UC-Davis as a tall champion swimmer, snow and water skier, and avid hunter. Ralph was a Renaissance Man, well-spoken, well-read, a champion athlete, a powerful intellect, always a smile on his face, modest. Later, a top educator, yet always a great listener. More important, in the darkest alleyway or the loneliest hilltop, Ralph stood by your side.
Although he was your age (yes, you young brother), when he arrived in the mid-1960s, Ralph was one of those men with maturity and bearing who was old before his time. Brent Chaney (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1968) recalled, “I was a member of the Beta pledge class and the second President of Theta Chi at UC-Davis, when we were still a colony. Ralph Miller was the Theta Chi brother I had known the longest. In 1964/1965 before Theta Chi existed, we were both living in Bixby 5 (residence hall) when he was a sophomore and I was a freshman. Ralph was always the ’older brother’ even as a college sophomore because he had a natural maturity and seriousness to his personality. He had a dry sense of humor. However, he never held a senior office in Zeta Xi Chapter. Instead, he was a leader by example and was more of a counselor than a chief. In those early days, we had plenty of type-A personalities who were the visible leaders. Ralph was more of a stable adviser, correctly, and thankfully, keeping us focused on building a strong organization and doing so with class. He was certainly one of the reasons I pledged Theta Chi. He and I had stayed in close touch over the years … I miss him.”
“Thirty years after graduation, Ralph saved my life,” said Jon K. Hooper (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967). “I was in a terrible accident that required medical procedures and I later had a 4-inch steel plate surgically inserted into my body. I was no longer able to do the things I loved. I was depressed. Ralph talked to me frequently and told me, essentially, to ‘get back on that horse.’ Ralph said, ‘Remember, the main purpose of skiing is to simply enjoy being on the mountain, even if it means the black diamond runs you’ve always enjoyed may be off limits. You love skiing. Get back up there!’ Ralph lifted me out of my sadness. That was 30 years after we graduated.”
Hooper continued, “Well, I have been skiing ever since thanks to Ralph. When I told Ralph that his brotherly coaxing was the reason I was skiing again, he said a dream of his had been fulfilled. When he helped found the Zeta Xi Chapter of Theta Chi, he said his goal was to instill a feeling of brotherhood that would extend way beyond college days. He said his goal had been met when he found out that his brotherly concern for my well-being had significantly impacted my life over 30 years after college. I consider Brother Ralph to be one of my life’s personal heroes. Last year, into my seventies, I skied 35 days as a personal record. More important, my life view was restored by Ralph.”
As a Charter Member, Ralph’s name is emblazoned on the Charter of Zeta Xi Chapter behind a thick sheet of plexiglass. During Zeta Xi’s 50th anniversary on November 8, 2017, he gave one of the keynote speeches, just before International President Joseph Couch rose to speak. Up on the stage, while both humorous and serious pictures documenting our 50-year run flashed on a screen, Ralph described the chapter house “like a well-worn leather shoe filled with memories,” and, looking out at the crowded auditorium, extended his hands and said, “This is all I could have wished for 50 years ago when we founded the Theta Chi colony: lifelong, true friendships and wonderful memories.”
Dr. Ralph H. Miller remains in the hearts of brothers at Zeta Xi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. His example exemplified what it means to be a Theta Chi for life and what it means to be a Charter Member: building a chapter, being a mentor, and steadying the helm when there is trouble. We miss you, Brother!
Fraternally,
W. Brent Chaney (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1968)
Jon K. Hooper (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967)
John Hodgson (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967)
Steve Goetz (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967)
Bob Sommer (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 1967)
*William W. Palmer (Beta Alpha/UCLA 1985)
Rick Zapardiel (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 2018)
*made an Honorary Member of Zeta Xi Chapter in 2017