Charles E. Miller

Charles E. Miller
Charles E. Miller Library
Born	1903
Died	9 July 1979 Howard County General Hospital
Cause of death	Heart Attack
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Foundation of Columbia, Maryland
Political party	Republican
Board member of	Howard County Commissioner
Spouse(s)	Grace E.
Children	Donald Miller, Paul Miller

Charles E. Miller (1903–1979) was an American politician and businessman in Howard County, Maryland

Charles Miller started as a Magistrate in Ellicott City, Maryland. Miller was a County Commissioner from 1938-1949. Miller served on the Howard County Board of Education starting in 1950, becoming the President of the board in 1954 and serving until 1962. Miller operated Howard County's last segregated school district, phasing out the practice over an 11-year plan.

Miller co-owned land outside Ellicott City with Benjamin Mellor, an insurance broker to the school board from the firm Herrman and Car. Both donated 8 acres of land they had already rented to farmer to build the Ellicott City High School on the condition the school system repay his renter for the lost crops. His tenant, E.W. Hardman asked for $700, a steep price for alfalfa crops in January at the end of the depression. The School board offered him half the amount, and he refused the offer.

In 1952, Miller donated $1,000 for the purchase of land for a new Ellicott City colored school. Miller recommended the Nellie Denhart property on Fels road, and contributed another $2,000 toward the project and approved the purchase. At Ellicott City High, 12 additional acres were purchased from Dorothy Marie Gaither for $5,000 with Miller contributing $2,500 for the land and demolition of the "colored house and corn crib" on the property. At the same time, her husband, Robert Lee Gaither bought the property of the recently burnt down Dayton school from the school board auction run by Miller for $750.

In 1956, Miller donated land on Chatham Road to relocate the First Evangelical Lutheran Church from its 1874 structure, which was sold to be converted to a private residence.

In 1962, Miller donated the land to Howard County for the county's first library. The branch was named the Charles E. Miller Branch in his honor.

In 1966, Ellicott City farm owner, Senator Clark proposed an independent parkland commission for Howard County. Miller opposed the legislation, starting a referendum against the measure. A 1972 bill approved by Miller allowed the council on which he sat to veto county purchases of parkland, including a project to create a county park that was proposed to overlay his own property. The legislation created during the political battle over parkland and land-use shaped the creation of the current Howard County Department of Parks & Recreation.

In 1972 Miller was granted permission to restore the historic Mount Ida mansion in Ellicott City and sell it as office space.