I. Ray Miller

I. Ray Miller was a tireless champion for the people of Columbus, Ohio — a statesman, civil rights advocate, and community builder whose work touched the lives of generations of Ohioans. Born on April 6, 1949, in Hampton, Virginia, he made Columbus his home and his mission, graduating from Columbus East High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from The Ohio State University in 1971 and 1973. Miller's path into public service began with a phone call to the General Assembly. A young OSU graduate seeking purpose, he became an intern for Democratic legislator Dick Celeste — a relationship that would shape both men's careers. That early mentorship planted the roots of a legislative career spanning 24 years in the Ohio General Assembly, first in the Ohio House of Representatives beginning in 1983, then in the Ohio State Senate from 2003 through his term-limited retirement in 2010. His colleagues elected him Senate Minority Leader in 2008, recognizing him as one of the most effective voices for working Ohioans in the chamber. Among his most enduring legacies, Miller earned the title "Father of Head Start Funding" in Ohio — the first state in the nation to dedicate funding to the program — ensuring that thousands of low-income children received an early educational foundation. He was the chief architect of the Community Mental Health Act of 1988, helped establish the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, and founded the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. He also secured a 25 percent set-aside for minority health programs from Ohio's $10 billion tobacco settlement. Known for speaking truth when it was uncomfortable, Miller never let racist remarks pass unchallenged on the House floor. He stood up — literally and figuratively — for the dignity of every Ohioan who could not speak for themselves. After leaving the legislature, Miller founded The Columbus African American News Journal in 2011, which grew into the largest minority-focused print publication in Central Ohio. He also served as President of The Center for Urban Progress and established the Ray Miller Institute for Change and Leadership at Ohio State University. Ray Miller passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026, at age 77, survived by his devoted wife Marty and son Ray Miller III. He is remembered as a fierce fighter for justice and a powerful voice for the marginalized — a legacy that will continue for generations.