Los Angeles
County
Biographies
OWEN
O. MILLER
As manager of the Alhambra office of
Pacific Finance Corporation, at 130 East Main Street, Mr. Owen O. Miller is
connected with one of the successful and fast growing financial institutions in
southern California. It is also the
fourth largest finance company in the country.
Mr. Miller started to work for the company in 1955, and in 6 years advanced
step by step from field representative to manager of the largest office of
Pacific Finance Company in the San Gabriel Valley, the Alhambra office with 10
employees. His duties include the
training of personnel, and he is responsible for the smooth operation and
successful performance of the entire office, to the satisfaction of the
customers.
Mr. Owen O. Miller was born October
28, 1933, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. His parents are Leon T. and Betty (Hoffman)
Miller, who have lived in Alhambra for six years. His only sister attends Alhambra High School.
After his elementary schooling, young
Owen O. Miller went to Hollenbeck Junior High School, and graduated from
Roosevelt High School. There he was
active in junior government and sports.
When he was 17 years old, he received an award for outstanding work from
the Los Angeles Board of Education while he was employed as playground
director. He continued his education at
East Los Angeles Junior College until 1953.
He studied public administration, youth and recreation work. He worked part time for the Los Angeles
Recreation Department, was Assistant Director of Boys Camp at Griffith Park,
and also worked part time for the Los Angeles Board of Education. He was in the military service from 1953 to
1955, and worked for eighteen months in Army Communications in Europe. After his return he worked for the Los
Angeles Board of Education until the fall of 1955.
In October, 1955, he took his first
job in the El Monte office of Pacific Finance Company as field representative,
was made assistant manager, and in 1957 was promoted to assistant manager in
the Long Beach office, which at that time was the largest in southern
California. After seven months, he was
privileged to work with the District Manager, covering ten offices, a job he
held for five months. In 1958 he became
manager of the Redondo Beach office, and held that position for seven
months. After two months of specialized
training, he was transferred to the larger office in Azusa as manager. In March of 1961 he took over as manager of
the Alhambra office, the largest of the twelve offices of Pacific Finance
Company in the San Gabriel Valley. The
Alhambra office served Monterey Park, San Gabriel and other communities,
besides Alhambra.
Mr. Miller married Miss Barbara A. Gifis on July 21, 1957.
Mrs. Miller is a graduate of Alhambra High School. She has worked in the Department of Revenue
for three years, and is now a clerk in the United States Marshals Office. Mrs. Miller’s family lives in Alhambra, and
her mother, Bertha Gifis, is secretary to Rabbi
Miller of Alhambra Synagogue Center. Mr.
and Mrs. Owen O. Miller belong to Alhambra Synagogue Center.
Mr. Miller is a member of the Azusa
Kiwanis Club, but expects to transfer to Alhambra. He is a member of the Alhambra Chamber of
Commerce. He is
active in youth work for the Alhambra Synagogue Center. Mr. Miller coaches basketball and football
teams, enjoys reading, and is a busy weekend gardener.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 575-576, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES