Les Miller

Don Cantrell

The late Les Miller, one-time principal of Costa Mesa High School

and a former football coach at Newport Harbor, 1943-45, was honored as an

Orange Coast College Citizen of the Year before he passed away in 1996 at

age 82.

He was born and raised in Kansas, and his early years found him

teaching and coaching in the Midwest.

California drew his attention after visiting his parents once during

one of their vacations in San Pedro. One counselor at USC directed his

teaching interest to Newport Harbor High and said it was one of the five

highest-rated high schools in Southern California.

Miller was impressed and quickly drove down the coast for an interview

by Principal Sidney Davidson. He then taught at Harbor from 1943-58. He

served at Costa Mesa High, 1958-63, as the school’s first principal.

He and his late wife, Jo, were graduates of Baker University in

Kansas. They had three children. She died after he had passed away in

‘96.

Miller held a master’s degree in political science and taught civics

and history at Newport. He was directed to coach varsity football and

baseball, replacing Wendell Pickens during World War II.

He coached the Newport varsity grid teams from 1943 through 1945. The

‘45 team was winless and the ’43 team won two games. The best team was

held together in 1944, despite a few key player losses to the military,

including All-CIF second-team tackle Dick Freeman and blocking back Joe

Muniz.

The team won its first four games, tied one and lost two. It lost to

powerful Santa Ana before 6,500 fans at the old Santa Ana Bowl, 7-6, when

many swore Newport had made the conversion boot by Don Vaughn.

One of his top players in ’43 also scored high recognition and that

was blocking back Lorrie Langmade, Al-CIF second team.

During his many years in the harbor area, Miller served with the

Newport Harbor-Costa Mesa Lions Club.

He played a major role in the Lions Club Fish Fry that drew hundreds

of thousands of dollars. Most was donated to charity and youth

organizations.

He was once a district governor of the Lions Club.

Pickens replaced Miller in varsity football and baseball after the

war, but Miller went on to coach lightweight football at Newport for some

years.

Les Miller’s dedication to Newport-Mesa athletes and students, as well

as the communities themselves, bears Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame

recognition, celebrating the oncoming millennium.