The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is saddened to lose their dear friend Dr. Harvey "Al" Miller who passed away on January 7, 2020 at age 91. Dr. Miller served the Foundation for more than 30 years in a variety of roles. Most notably, he was the first Scholarship Selection Chairman and was responsible for designing our unique, world-class process for obtaining nominations and selecting the top college scholars studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). His concepts were adopted by the founding Mercury 7 astronauts and have been continued by astronauts and scholars who have followed. Dr. Miller was also instrumental in establishing the alumni network, known as the Astronaut Scholars Honor Society, which ensures that all scholarship award recipients have a lifelong relationship with the Foundation, the astronauts and each other. “The effects of Dr. Millers work birthing our Foundation and confirming the ongoing success of our mission will forever impact everyone involved as we continue the great work he began so many years ago,” expressed ASF Chairman Curt Brown.
Harvey Miller, born in Michigan in 1928, attended the University of Michigan (B.S. Botany, 1950), University of Hawaii (M.S. Botany, 1952) and Stanford University (Ph.D. Biology, 1957). He held many positions in higher education where he worked as a professor for nine different universities. Dr. Miller’s botanical travels have taken him to all fifty states and more than twenty countries. He was the principal author of three books about the Pacific Islands bryophytes, the author of a Laboratory Manual for General Botany, and illustrator of Liverworts and Hornworts of Hawaii for the University of Hawaii Press. He has also published more than one hundred research articles and numerous short memoirs. Dr. Miller served as the editor of the Florida Scientist published by the Florida Academy of Sciences for five years. Since 1970, he has been listed in Who’s Who in America International Dictionary of Biography, Who’s Who in American Education and World Scientist from Antiquity to Present, as well as Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in botanical research and education. Among Dr. Miller's many accomplishments is the collection of the first carbon-samples that helped establish the carbon-14 dates for human migration across the Bering Straits to North America during the 1949-1950 University of Michigan Expedition to the Aleutian Islands. He was a member of several fraternities and associations, including American Bryological and Lichenological Society, British Bryological Society, Michigan Academy, and the Florida Academy of Sciences and Space Coast Writers Guild. He was a licensed pilot, who took his first flying lesson at age 14, and enjoyed being active in professional activities and writing.
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is the prestigious organization it is today because of the foresight, tireless effort and extreme passion of one Dr. Al Miller. Sir, we will forever honor your legacy as our Foundation continues the great works you began years ago, Godspeed.
