Posted on 08/02/2018
Justin McCarthy "Mac" Miller, Jr.
Col. USMC Ret. Justin McCarthy "Mac" Miller, Jr., passed away in Pensacola on July 29, 2018. He was born to Justin and Margaret Miller in Baltimore, MD on September 14, 1914. Like his father, he attended the Naval Academy in 1937. He also attended the American University and the National University Law School in Washington, D.C.
Mac reported to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL for the first flight training class there. He received his wings in June 1941. He then spent 1200 hours as an instrument flight instructor at Chevalier Field in Pensacola.
During WWII while serving as a Marine fighter pilot in the South Pacific, the Marshals, and Guam, he received many decorations including The Distinguished Flying Cross with two stars, the Air Medal with nine stars and The Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with five stars.
As a civilian, Mac owned and operated WCOA radio station, where for 15 years he delivered daily editorials. He owned other stations in Orlando, Clearwater, Bradenton, and Sarasota FL. He also had stations in Augusta and Macon GA. Mac and a local group built Pensacola's first cable TV system that later became Cox Cable. He also built the cellular telephone systems in Binghamton, NY and Green Bay, WI. Mac owned TV stations in Jacksonville, Nashville, and San Antonio.
He enjoyed surfing in Hawaii, flying gliders in New Zealand and Oahu. Snow skiing in the Smokies and Rockies, as well as Austria and Switzerland. In school he played on football, soccer, water-polo, track, and field, swim and volley ball teams. He hunted wild game birds, such as quail, dove, ducks and geese. The largest fish he ever caught was a 120 lb tarpon. He flew 30 different planes including a 4-engine bomber, twin engine trainers and had 5,500 hours in single-engine fighters and civilian aircraft. A dedicated golf duffer, he claimed to have the highest handicap in three country clubs.
Mac was President of the FL Association of Radio and TV Broadcasters, the Pensacola Advertising Club, the Pensacola Sales Executive Club, the Pensacola Symphony Society and the Players at Sarasota. Mac was a Director of the Pensacola Arts Council, PJC Foundation, Fiesta of Five Flags (he was Don Tristan Deluna 42nd) the Navy League, Contemporary Communications and the national director of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Assn. (class of 1937). Additionally, he served on the Florida Judicial Council and Juvenile Court Advisory Board.
Mac was a longtime Rotarian and received the Paul Harris Fellow award. He was on the vestry of Saint John's Episcopal Church. He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church. He strove to be a stalwart and chivalrous defender of his Faith, the Nation, its Constitution and individual liberty and free enterprise. He is survived by three sons, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. He was preceded by his son Justin Miller III.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 12 pm at All Saints Church in Pensacola, FL with a graveside service to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. National Cremation & Burial Society is entrusted with the arrangements.
Published in Pensacola News Journal from Aug. 4 to Aug. 12, 2018