William Miller, IV, a political consultant who helped forge the campaigns of some of Philadelphia’s most prominent politicians, died at the age of 68 Saturday. Miller’s family confirmed he died at Abington Memorial Hospital of complications from a stroke.
Born in West Philadelphia, Miller served in the United States Air Force and then received his Bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University and his Master’s Degree in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
Miller spent over two decades working in Philadelphia’s city government in which he held several positions, including the Chief Deputy Register of Wills. He then founded Ross Associates, Inc. in 1981, a Philadelphia-based political consulting firm that directs electoral politics and campaigns. That same year he served under Philadelphia Mayor William J. Green as the architect and Executive Director of a Task Force which worked to increase minority hiring in the Philadelphia Police Department. In 1983 he was the political and field director for W. Wilson Goode, helping him become Philadelphia’s first African-American mayor.
Miller was also the co-founder of former Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey’s Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs, a founding board member of the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia, and the senior consultant to the Pennsylvania State Democratic Party. As the senior consultant, Miller became the first African-American to lead a state delegation to a national convention during the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.
Among his other accomplishments, Miller was also appointed to the Tax Reform Commission in 2003 in which he researched ways to lower taxes and attract businesses to Philadelphia. In 2004 he created Philadelphia Forward, a nonprofit public policy advocacy organization, serving as the group’s chairman until December, 2006. Miller also served on the Board of Directors of Allion Healthcare, Inc., Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.
Miller is survived by a wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and two sisters. A viewing will be held for Miller Friday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Salem Baptist Church on 610 Summit Avenue in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. A funeral service will immediately follow at the church.
