The business community is remembering Ben Miller today as one of city’s most prominent attorneys and committed civic leaders. He died earlier today at the age of 77 after a brief illness.
Miller is well known as a co-founder of the Kean Miller law firm, where he served as managing partner from 1983 to 1999. During that time he helped grow the firm from 11 attorneys to 84; it now is the largest law firm in the Capital Region and among the largest in the state.
“During Ben’s 50-year legal career he forged hundreds of personal and professional relationships across Louisiana and around the world,” says Steve Boutwell, director of client services and communications at Kean Miller, where Miller served as Of Counsel. “These relationships were based on trust, a profound awareness of client and personal needs, and powerful legal advocacy.”
During his legal career, Miller served as primary outside counsel to Lamar Advertising Company while it grew from a modest local billboard company to a national, publicly traded advertising company. He also served as primary outside counsel to the Wilbur Marvin Foundation and Commercial Properties Development Corporation, which is now Commercial Properties Realty Trust, the real estate arm of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. But it is for his commitment to making the community a better place that colleagues and friends are remembering Miller today.
“He gave a lot back to the community,” says Boutwell. “He absolutely instilled in the firm this whole philosophy of putting people first.”
Miller served on the boards of several civic and philanthropic organizations, including the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Public Affairs Research Council and the Capital Area Transit System.
“It’s a huge loss,” says Jim Brandt, a former president of PAR and current board member of CATS. “He was a tremendous civic figure in Baton Rouge and was so involved in everything he took on.”
BRAC President Adam Knapp says Miller was “an amazing guy” who exemplified a spirit of service.
“He was committed to improving the quality of life in Baton Rouge,” says Knapp. “He was a guy who never stopped giving back.” —Stephanie Riegel
