(bright music)
- [Narrator] The 150 year ascent
of the University of
Maryland has been guided
by visionaries and leaders.
They've helped transform
our university into one
of the world's premier
institutions of higher education.
Thomas V. Mike Miller,
Jr., is one such leader.
Elected to the Maryland
General Assembly in 1971,
Senator Miller was chosen
as Senate President in 1987.
And for the next 33 years,
presided as the longest
serving State Senate President
in the history of the United States.
(upbeat music)
Senator Miller not only shaped
Maryland's entire system
of higher education,
he helped build our
university's modern campus.
He provided state support
for dozens of projects,
including the Bioscience Research
Building, XFINITY Center,
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center,
the Physical Sciences
Complex, and Cole Field House.
He also helped create Mpower,
the comprehensive strategic partnership
with University of Maryland Baltimore.
Senator Miller enrolled
at the University of Maryland in 1960.
It was here that he met
his future wife, Patti.
He graduated in 1964 and started a family
that would eventually
include many more Terps.
Last fall, Senator Miller
announced his retirement
as Senate President, capping
an illustrious 49-year career.
For decades, the Main
Administration Building has served
as the centerpiece of our campus.
Today, the University of Maryland is proud
to honor the unparalleled
contributions of Senator Miller
to our state, and to our university
by renaming this campus landmark.
- For all that Maryland
Senate President Mike Miller
has done over the course of
three decades for the students,
the faculty and the
staff of the university.
Those who are here now,
those who came before,
and those who will come
in the generations ahead.
We proudly and gratefully
etch his name in stone
upon this landmark Main
Administration Building.
- [Narrator] Introducing
the Thomas V. Miller, Jr.
Administration Building.
- For the first five
years that I held office
as Maryland's Governor,
I had the privilege
of serving alongside Senate
President Emeritus Mike Miller.
After an historic tenure
as the longest continually
serving presiding officer
in the nation, Mike Miller
continues to be a strong,
unifying leader for the legislature
and for the State of Maryland.
And as a proud Terp,
his passionate advocacy
has had a profound impact
on the entire university
system of Maryland.
The dedication of the
Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
Administration Building
is a fitting tribute
to a lifetime of selfless service.
Congratulations, Mike, on
this fantastic achievement.
- Senator Miller, for the
entirety of your political career
and especially the years
as Senate President,
providing a quality education
for our young people has always been one
of your top priorities.
Many of the achievements and
advances this state has made
in education, particularly
when it comes to funding
are due in no small part
because of your leadership
and dedication to the effort.
- I wanna congratulate Dr.
Loh, the Board of Regents
for their decision to honor
Senate President Mike Miller.
I can't think of a better
person who embodies the spirit
of the University of
Maryland at College Park
than President Miller.
- I think it's incredibly fitting
that the University has
chosen to name its seat
of leadership after Mike,
who has done so much
to lead both the state and the university
to reach its highest potential.
It was an honor and a privilege
being part of Team Miller
and the Miller family,
and we all thank you.
Congratulations.
- Mike, I am thrilled that your name
will grace the Main
Administration Building.
You became the Senate President the year
before I became the
University's President.
I could never overstate my appreciation
for the support you gave
me during my 10 years,
both as President and Chancellor,
and what this support meant
to the ever-growing excellence
of your beloved alma mater.
Simply put, you are the best.
- Naming the Thomas V. Miller,
Jr. Administration Building
after a man who transformed this campus
is truly a wonderful day.
On the first morning of my
first day on this campus,
Patsy and I welcomed Mike
to an early breakfast
at the President's Residence.
I wanted him to be the
first person I met that day.
We went on to develop a warm
and trusting relationship
and Mike remains my best
friend in the state.
Mike, congratulations on
this magnificent recognition
and thank you for allowing me to claim
that my office at Maryland
was in the Thomas V. Miller,
Jr. Administration Building.
- Every year, tens of thousands of Terps
will cross McKeldin Mall, inspired
by Senator Miller's unwavering commitment
to propelling our university forward.
His name will remind us all
of his pursuit of service
to the great State of Maryland
and to the entire world.
- [Narrator] In many ways,
the Thomas V. Miller, Jr.
Administration Building is named not just
for Senator Miller, but
for three generations
of proud Terps.
- I'm very honored to be here today
and I wanna thank Dr. Loh, particularly.
I wanna thank the Board of Regents.
This is a great honor.
The University of Maryland here
at College Park is family to me.
I'm the oldest of 10 children.
Eight of us attended and graduated here
from the University of
Maryland, College Park.
I have five children.
My son, Tommy, graduated from here.
I have 15 grandchildren.
A number of them graduated.
I've got grandchildren
here, I've got a Marine here
that came up from Georgia,
and I've got a Lieutenant
in the Navy who came in from San Diego.
We're all here,
celebrating this great day.
- Love you, Papa, go Terps.
- I wanna thank everybody
who's made this possible,
especially my wife of 55 years,
who we met here on the
College Park campus.
We were 18, we've been
together ever since.
This is home away from home
and I'm very grateful for this honor.
- [Narrator] The Thomas V. Miller, Jr.
Administration Building,
a permanent reminder
to our entire community
of the legacy of one man
who helped transform our
state and our university.
♪ Hail Alma Mater ♪
♪ Hail to thee Maryland ♪
♪ Steadfast in loyalty ♪
♪ For thee we stand ♪
♪ Love for the black and gold ♪
♪ Deep in our hearts we hold ♪
♪ Singing thy praise forever ♪
♪ Throughout the land ♪
