Pole vaulter had equal passion for the camera
[attach]1624[/attach]From the pole vault to the camera, Ronald Miller was extraordinary.
Miller, who died recently in Collingwood after a bout with Alzheimer’s disease, was one of Canada’s premiere performers in both fields. Many newspapers and radio stations documented his success in track and field or taking photographs.
He was a master of his sport, holding the Canadian record in the event for five consecutive years until 1956.
When his playing days were over, Miller ventured into the portrait-photography business for 34 years in Toronto with Vancouver-born sprinter and lifelong love Eleanor McKenzie.
[attach]1625[/attach]Born in Toronto and raised at the family home on Strathallan Boulevard in the city’s north end, Miller fell in love with the pole vault at Northern Vocational Institute. His initial foray into international competition came in 1950 when he participated in the British Empire Games in Auckand, New Zealand at age 20.
On the way over Miller became enraptured with Eleanor, who had been named Canada’s outstanding female athlete for 1949 by the Canadian Amateur Athletic Association. They met on the ship Aorgani with Canada’s other team members (seven women and 12 men).
“The ship left Vancouver Dec. 21, 1949,’’ said Eleanor. “Ron was at one table and I was at another and somehow we met. Ron was so shy it took him until New Year’s Eve to steal his first kiss.’’
The ship ride lasted 21 days so the friendship had plenty of time to blossom into a relationship that resulted in marriage in 1952, one of two such marriages that resulted from meetings on that vessel.
Neither Miller nor Eleanor made the final at the games but it was a wonderful experience just the same. The world-class athletes also qualified for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Trained by the legendary, innovative Lloyd Percival, Miller finally gained some notoriety in 1954 at the British Empire Games in Vancouver when he captured silver, finishing behind England’s Geoff Elliott.
“Winning the silver medal that year was the highlight of Ron’s career and he was especially proud of holding the Canadian record for five years,’’ his widow said. “His top record was 13 feet, nine and three quarter inches. He did pretty good because in those days, they had to use a stiff pole that didn’t spring and they had to land on their feet in sawdust or sand, whereas today, they use a much lighter pole made of fiberglass and land on their backs on air foam bags.’’
[attach]1626[/attach]By 1960, the Millers decided to enter the photography business in Toronto and they operated two photo studios, one at Finch Avenue East and Leslie Street, the other in Leaside at Sutherland and McRae Drives until they retired and moved to Collingwood in 1994. The Leaside location is now operated by the Millers’ daughter, Donna.
“The highlight in photography for Ron was when he was named a Master photographer in 1979 at the age of 50 by the Professional Photographers of Canada,’’ Eleanor said. “Over the years, we shot the weddings for a number of high-profile people including Conrad Black and politician Robert Stanfield.
“We did strictly portrait photography (including former premier Bill Davis, broadcaster Lloyd Robertson and author Peter C. Newman), nothing commercial, although some companies like Canadian Tire, Shell and IBM would call and ask us to come in and take photos of their executives.’’
Miller leaves behind his wife, daughters Beverley, Lynda and Donna and five grandchildren. He was buried at First Presbyterian Cemetery in Collingwood.