Joseph Irwin Miller

26 MAY 1909 * 16 AUGUST 2004 JOSEPH IRWIN MILLER was born in Columbus, Indiana, on 26 May 1909, and departed this life on 16 August 2004. His ancestors were pioneers, who settled in Kentucky in the eighteenth century; in Indiana at the beginning of the nineteenth century; and in Bartholomew County in 1820, more than one hundred and eighty years ago. His two grandfathers were pioneering preachers in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The men among his ancestors included farmers, merchants, and bankers. The women in his family were strong persons of faith who raised responsible children and contributed their judgment to family business ventures. They were all men and women of character. They faced the unknown with energy and courage, and they lived out their lives with faith and style. Irwin Miller embraced their example and offers now, to each of us, a compelling example of his inclusive Christian faith and of his continuous imaginative selfless service to the world and the community around him. His ancestors were profoundly convinced of the importance of a liberal education to the success of any democracy or community. He was schooled first in Columbus and later at the Taft School. After a distinguished undergraduate career at Yale (Phi Beta Kappa) and completion of graduate studies at Oxford University, Irwin Miller returned to Columbus in 1934 to enter the world of business. A classics scholar, musician, and religious leader, Irwin Miller integrated his artistic interests and spiritual beliefs with his farsighted business acumen. He started his career as general manager of Cummins Engine, the fledgling company founded by his great-uncle, W. G. Irwin, and his greatgrandfather's chauffeur, Clessie Cummins. The company was so small and entrepreneurial at that time that his initial duties included opening all the mail received by the company each day. Over the next sixty years, Irwin Miller fashioned Cummins into the leading independent diesel manufacturer in the world. Although he moved easily in circles that included the leaders of nations and international businesses, he deeply valued his personal relationships with the workers in his factories and offices. His most treasured award, the only one he displayed in his office where he could see it every day, was an honorary membership in the Diesel Workers Union given when he retired from the board of directors of the company. At the advent of World War II, Irwin Miller volunteered for the Navy Air Corps, experiencing combat as a lieutenant aboard the USS Langley, an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. After the death of his great-uncle, the government called him home to run Cummins, which was considered an essential war-related industry. A few years later, he also assumed responsibility for the Irwin Union Bank founded by his great-grandfather, serving as its chairman until 1976. In 1943, in a quiet ceremony in Washington, D.C., he married his Columbus sweetheart, Xenia Ruth Simons, with Clessie Cummins serving as his best man. Over the next thirteen years, their family grew to include three daughters, Margaret, Catherine, and Elizabeth, and two sons, Hugh and William. The family was raised in Columbus, Indiana, and spent its summers in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada, following the tradition of his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents; a tradition now treasured by his ten beloved grandchildren. Although he was raised in his family's Tabernacle Christian Church, Irwin Miller's faith was forged years later when he was personally and publicly challenged regarding what he believed. This challenge forced him to think through his Christian faith at a deeper level; as a result, it became the foundation of his life. He became a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) lay leader, avid New Testament reader (in Greek), philanthropist, and religious arts advocate. Even as his business and other interests took him further afield, he retained a great interest in his local congregation, serving in many capacities from Sunday school teacher to chairman of the congregation. …

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