Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame: Ed Miller

Don Cantrell

Had there been a premonition about a great year of football in

early September of 1942?

“Yes, I think we felt that we were better, but not that we weren’t

apprehensive,” Newport Harbor High tailback Ed Miller said. “Yet, there

was something about that whole experience I could never forget, made even

more odd because the war had started. A lot left school after the 39-6

playoff loss to Bonita to join the service.”

On a somber note, he continued. “It was almost unsaid that this

football season was our one last hurrah.”

The huge ground gainer who led the Sailors to a 9-1 championship

season was All-CIF fullback Hal Sheflin, but Miller and halfback Keith

Engelhardt, who both ran 100 yards in 10.2 seconds, also contributed

large measures of real estate on the field.

The Tars’ backfield also featured noteworthy strength with quarterback

Vernon Fitzpatrick, blocking back Lorrie Langmade and tailback Paul

Myrehn.

Future All-American Glenn Davis would run wild in the second half

against Newport with Sheflin injured. Miller had the bristling speed to

catch Davis, but he once explained the problem. He said Davis had

powerful hips and could throw would-be tacklers away with relative ease.

One strength Miller had dealt with was his unique talent. He could

play almost any position and often did in 1942. He was the first gridder

to be voted Tar of the Week and he was also voted Tar of the Year in

1942-43, which provided a glimpse of his versatility in athletics.

Miller, whose younger brother, Don, would star for the Tars in 1944,

chose to swing east after high school. He earned a scholarship to

Dartmouth University.

Coincidentally, he crossed paths in track and field with the Davis

brothers, Glenn and Ralph, again on the cinder paths back east. Miller

was a splendid hurdler. He was also sharp in the sprints.

Looking back once, he said he wasn’t overwhelmed by the short-punt

formation used by Newport.

“Actually, it’s not a very deceptive formation,” he said. “It’s good

if you have the right personnel.”

Obviously, Sheflin kept it alive.

Miller faded from football in college, but he didn’t seem to miss that

activity as time passed.

He subsequently turned to his studies in law, earned his degree, and,

in time, became the San Diego district attorney.

However, he retired a few years ago after a successful career and

today resides in the Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating the

millennium.