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H. Laurence Miller, Jr.
Professor, UH-Manoa Economics, 1967 - 1988
H. Laurence Miller, Jr., Professor of Economics Emeritus, U.H. passed away on March 2, 1988 of acute leukemia. He is survived by his wife Dr. Mary Carol Perrott, and his three children: Henry, Catherine, and Ann.
Larry received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Kansas where he was elected to Phi Betta Kappa.
A Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, he graduated with First Class Honours in 1950. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University in 1956.
Prior to joining the UH Larry held faculty appointments at Harvard University, UCLA and Carlton College, and was on the staff of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
During his academic career Larry published a number of papers in professional journals which were well received. However, especially at the UH, he will be remembered mostly for his teaching. Since joining the Economics Department in 1969 Larry taught the basic graduate courses in microeconomic theory. Everyone who received his graduate degree in economics at the UH had not only the opportunity to learn from his teaching but also had to meet his uncompromising quality standards. A former student wrote him: "Dear Larry: For over four years you were one of the most important people in my life. At times I hated your guts, at other times I loved and respected you. Whenever I succeed in publishing a piece, I think to myself: I hope Larry sees this; he will be happy and proud." Another student writes: "I find myself doing 'Millerisms' all the time with my own students. Larry helped me understand the responsibility of teaching and that legacy will continue to grow as all of us who studied with him will teach others, who will teach others, who will teach others..."
Larry also practiced what he taught. One former colleague writes: "He was one of the unfortunately small number of people in our profession who really took economics seriously. To him it was not a game, but a serious pursuit of principles that make the world work the way it does. Economic theory was enormous fun, to be sure, but the final object was something real and important." Larry will be sorely missed in the Department.
The H. Laurence Miller, Jr., Memorial Economics Fund has been established.
Also, Larry used 120 pints of blood during his illness, of which some 35 had been "repaid" by family and friends. His family is most anxious to repay the moral debt and would appreciate your donation of blood in his memory. To do so please contact Blood Bank of Hawaii, 2043 Dillingham Blvd., Honolulu.
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