Franklin "Clark" Miller August 11, 1938 - November 5, 2008 Former San Francisco 49er and local
businessman Clark Miller passed away unexpectedly Wed, November 5, 2008. He was the loving husband of Lissa Miller
for 46 years. Clark spent his last days enjoying his passion for riding horses.
Born in Oakland, he was a graduate of Oakland High School. He attended
Oakland Junior College, earning All-America honors for football. Clark then transferred
to Utah State University in Logan and was a standout tackle for the Aggies during the 1960
and 1961 seasons, as he helped the team to a combined 18-3-1 record, two Skyline Eight
championships and back-to-back bowl appearances.
He was named outstanding lineman for the 1962 Senior Bowl and most valuable
player of the 1962 East-West Shrine game.
Miller was drafted as a junior in the fifth round of the 1961 National
Football League Draft by San Francisco and played for the 49ers as a defensive end from
1962-68. He spent the 1969 season with the Washington Redskins and the 1970 campaign with
the Los Angeles Rams.
Miller was inducted into the Utah State Hall of Fame in 1995.
In 1974, Miller became owner and president of Clark Miller Distributing,
a beverage wholesale distribution enterprise based in Napa. Over the next 35 years, he grew
the business to service 25 suppliers in six North Bay counties.
Miller's enthusiasm for quarter horses spurred his involvement at many levels with the Pacific
Coast Cutting Horse Association, including serving as president. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast Cutting
Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2003.
Miller was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Clark is survived by his wife Lissa; daughter, Robin (Michael) Brennan; son, Matthew (Michelle)
Miller; grandchildren, Jake and Christopher Brennan, and Makenna and Maya Miller; brother, Bob (Dawna) Miller;
sister, Sandra (Mike) Kazar; nieces, Michele (Tony) Hill and Tiffany Miller; nephews, Sherratt (Wendy) Reicher,
Christian Miller, Bill (Sandy) Warna, Karen (Jerry) Schoenhals, Don (Margie) Sherratt, Rich (Susan) Sherratt;
and many loving nieces, nephews and second and third cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Grace Miller.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northern California Institute for Bone Health,
Inc., 3100 Telegraph Ave., Suite 3000, Oakland, CA 94609 or Clark Miller memorial Youth Award, Pacific Coast
Cutting Horse Assn; P.O. Box 108, Lockford, CA 95237 (209-727-5779).
A celebration of life service will be held at St. Helena Catholic Church, 1340 Tainter
St., on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11:30 a.m.
A public viewing will be held at Richard Pierce Funeral Chapel, 1660 Silverado Trail in
Napa, on Friday, Nov. 14, from noon to 8 p.m.
Arrangements are under the care of Richard Pierce Funeral Service.
