Andy Miller’s father and two uncles were founders of the SAE chapter here in 1948. An extraordinary natural leader, it is no accident that Andy’s pledging of Pi Kappa Alpha in the fall of 1969 marked the point at which his fraternity began a dramatic rise, and the other fraternity he might have joined would slowly but inexorably fade.
Andy Miller quickly embraced the roles of Rush Chairman and President. His sister Susan joined ADPi Sorority, and Andy was one of three Pikes in a row to be crowned ADPi Man. His younger brother Bill Miller ’74 joined Pike, and his son Matt Miller ’09 is also an alumnus.
Andy was a brilliant and transformative SMC at Delta Lambda Chapter. After graduation, his business reputation as a ‘boy genius’ was such that when he was only 24 years old, Florida State University turned over their entire collegiate fundraising apparatus to him. And he has remained President and CEO of that vast operation for 45 years.
It was Andy Miller’s vision that financed and brought to life the largest contiguous brick stadium complex in the history of America. And, where there had been acres of old and abandoned warehouses near the football stadium, there is now an entire village of shops, restaurants, bars, student housing and fan-friendly, game-day gathering places. Officially it’s called College Town, but most Pikes refer to it as ‘Millerville’.
In the 1970s Andy continued to serve alongside Ed Cubbon as President of the Delta Lambda House Corporation.
In 1999, University President Sandy D’Alemberte asked Andy to take charge of fulfilling his vision of a multi-acre park of new fraternity houses. Miller chose the rolling hills of the old golf course off Ocala Road and set about the daunting task of bringing all the relevant pieces together for the development.
Delta Lambda Chapter returned as a colony in 2000 just as other fraternities were making plans to build in the new park, now called Heritage Grove. Andy was a chief volunteer along with Legends of Delta Lambda Capital Campaign Chairman Brent Wolfe Sembler ’78 in raising millions toward the construction of the new house. Miller also chose the new house’s location, ensuring that anyone’s first view upon entering Heritage Grove is of the Florida State Pike House.
Andy Miller’s name is one of the most respected and admired in Florida State University history. The University has showered him with every honor they can think to offer: He’s in the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame; he was inducted into the Circle of Gold; he received the Moore-Stone Award, the Bernard Sliger Award…and when they ran out of awards they shifted to facilities. The two-story convention space in University Center is named Andy Miller Hall.
In 2015, Pi Kappa Alpha National awarded Andy Miller the Distinguished Achievement Award for his leadership in making Seminole Boosters, Inc. one of the signature athletic fundraising organizations in America.
Pi Kappa Alpha would never have become the great Delta Lambda Chapter at Florida State if not for Andy Miller’s vision and relentless dedication to the Fraternity.
Miller with fellow DL Legend Brent Sembler