[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7680-7681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF ALBERT MELVIN MILLER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Beyer) for 30 minutes.
  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable life 
and accomplishments of Mr. Albert Melvin Miller, who passed away on 
Sunday, May 10, at Inova Alexandria Hospital.
  Melvin was a well-known political and community leader in the city of 
Alexandria, Virginia. One of his crowning achievements was his work 
with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, protecting and 
expanding affordable housing programs across the city.
  Mel was a civil rights advocate, a mentor, and a beloved father. He 
was also a character: kind, interested, ever present, honest, hard-
working, inspirational, and--above all--witty. Mel Miller was a person 
you wanted to spend time with.
  Mel grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey, but his heart belonged to 
Raleigh, North Carolina, where his alma mater, Saint Augustine's 
University, is located, and to his adopted hometown of Alexandria, 
Virginia.
  Graduating from Saint Aug's in history and political science, he 
remained deeply involved with the school by serving on the board of 
trustees for 35 years and encouraging Alexandria's students to attend 
his beloved university.
  After earning his JD from Howard University School of Law, Melvin was 
admitted to the Virginia State Bar and moved to Alexandria in 1958. 
Early in his Alexandria life, Melvin begin his civil rights activism 
and community involvement by doing pro bono work on school 
desegregation issues.
  This work led him to join an underground association unofficially 
named the ``Secret Seven,'' which met to discuss possible ways to 
discuss civil rights and liberties in Alexandria and the surrounding 
areas. This early local involvement led him to become a prominent 
figure in Alexandria's education system and the authority and champion 
for affordable housing.
  Melvin's work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 
the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority helped to provide 
housing for hundreds of Alexandria's poor. His crowning achievement was 
a deal by Melvin between the city of Alexandria and ARHA, which 
required any affordable housing that was destroyed to be matched one-
for-one with new developments. That deal still stands largely untouched 
today.
  Mel was a tireless mentor of Alexandria's students and an avid high 
school sports fan. He could often be seen and heard giving advice to 
local students and cheering at high school sporting events. He also 
served on the Alexandria school board from 1986 to 1993, serving as 
board chair from 1990 to 1992.
  Mel is survived by his daughter, Ericka Miller; his son, Marc Miller, 
and wife, Mary; his grandchildren, Max, Chris, Zachary, and Bennett 
Miller; his daughter-in-law, Vicky McCauley; and a host of other 
relatives and many friends.
  Melvin was preceded in death by son, Eric. His wife of nearly 5 
years, Eula Miller, passed away in 2011. Eula was also a tremendous 
advocate for education in northern Virginia, having helped create many 
programs supporting caregivers and young mothers in local high schools 
and Northern Virginia Community College.
  I offer my condolences to his family and all the people who have been 
affected by the loss of this amazing man. Mr. Albert Melvin Miller is a 
shining example of the effect one person can have on so many local 
lives. I hope his memory lives as an inspiration for local leaders to 
come.
  At his funeral yesterday, former T.C. Williams High School legendary 
football coach Herman Boone ended his eulogy with the call to 
``Remember the Titan,'' Melvin Miller.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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