Los Angeles
County
Biographies
J. SMITH MILLER
A
real family man, highly competent, and the owner of a successful business, J.
Smith Miller is the only manufacturer of swimsuits in Alhambra. His company, Jaysims,
Incorporated, which he founded in 1944, when he came to California,
manufactures swimsuits under contract to Catalina, Incorporated. Mr. Miller originally had plants in
Montebello, Rosemead and San Gabriel, and in 1959 moved to the present location
at 2300 Poplar in Alhambra where he employs from sixty-five to one hundred
twenty-five people. Before coming to
California, Mr. Miller was in management at the Salt Lake Knitting Works in
Utah for ten years and was on its board of directors until 1959.
“Joe”
Miller was born in Salt Lake City on November 16, 1909, one of the nine
children of Matthew A. and Minerva S. (Smith) Miller, who have both passed
away. His father, born in Pennsylvania
near Johnstown, was a banker for forty-five years. His mother was born in Salt Lake City and was
a descendant of early pioneers. After
attending elementary school in Salt Lake City, Mr. Miller received his high
school and junior college education at the Latter-day Saints College in Salt
Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science
degree, taking post graduate work at the Lowell Textile Institute at Lowell,
Massachusetts. He studied at the
University of Vienna for six months, mostly German, and from 1929 to 1932 was
in Europe—Austria and Germany—doing missionary work. Mr. Miller is a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, South Pasadena Ward. He was superintendent of the Sunday school,
has taught all classes, and has held all positions in the young people’s group.
Mr.
Miller is a past member of the San Gabriel, Montebello and Salt Lake City
Rotary Clubs.
On
December 31, 1938, Mr. Miller married the former Miss Radie
Hyde in Salt Lake City. Mrs. Miller is
very active in church work. She also
works a few days a week as payroll clerk at Jaysims,
Incorporated. The Miller’s have four
children, all of whom are truly outstanding young people. Mrs. J. T. (Diane) Hansen is a graduate of
Mark Keppel High School, was among the five highest scholastically in her
class, and was valedictorian. She
attended the University of Utah where she was affiliated with Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
She lives in Pasadena with her husband, who is the owner of the Super
Swim Wear plants in Rosemead and San Gabriel, and their children, David and
Heidi. Bonnie Jo Miller is a graduate of
San Marino High School where she was a member of the California Scholarship
Federation. She attends the University
of Utah. Philip Hyde Miller is also a
graduate of San Marino High School where he was a student body officer, captain
of the B football squad for three years and golf captain for two years. He attends the University of Utah, and is a
member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Cherie Lyn Miller attends San Marino High School.
Mr.
Miller takes great pride and pleasure in his family and they are very fond of
doing things together.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Page 720, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES