Costa Mesa High honors first principal

Alex Coolman

COSTA MESA -- Costa Mesa High School held a ceremony Thursday to honor

the man who was its first principal and an important figure in the city’s

civic life.

The school dedicated its administration building to Les Miller, who

served as the school’s principal from the time it opened, in 1957,

through 1963.

The ceremony was attended not only by Newport-Mesa Unified School

District officials, including board member Jim Ferryman and Supt. Robert

Barbot, but also by members of Miller’s family and the Costa Mesa-Newport

Harbor Lions Club. Also in attendance were a small group of Costa Mesa

High students.

“He came out here from the Midwest, established his family roots here,

gave back to the community, and he was truly a role model,” Ferryman

said. “I just hope that some of the young people in the audience take

heed of some of the things he got involved in and try to mirror a true

superstar like Les Miller.”

Miller passed away in 1995 at the age of 80.

Diana Carey, Costa Mesa’s current principal, said it was an honor to

have a piece of the school bear Miller’s name.

“I’m trying to follow in his footsteps, but I find they’re very large

and I keep falling in,” she said.

Besides his work as an educator, Miller is also known as a man who

helped start the tradition of the Costa Mesa Fish Fry. The annual event

is closely tied to the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, a group for

which Miller served as president from 1946-47.

Mike Scheafer, past district governor of the club, recalled Miller as

a man whose vivid personality and giving spirit were evident in his

participation in events like the Fish Fry.

“People might not have known his name, but they sure knew his face and

they knew his straw hat,” Scheafer said.

Hank Panian, former Orange Coast College professor and a local

historian, had a few nice things to say about Miller as well.

“He is a spiritual part of the brick and mortar of this high school

and also the community,” Panian said. “It is altogether fitting that the

administration building be named in his honor.”