About Larry H. Miller Scion
Larry H. Miller, husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, philanthropist, community advocate and humanitarian, passed away from complications due to type 2 diabetes on February 20, 2009. He was 64. He created the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, one of the 10 largest retail automobile operations in the United States.
Larry, a man who truly loved Utah, its people and its land, was born in Salt Lake City in April of 1944. From modest beginnings, he grew up in the Capitol Hill area, graduated from West High, married his high school sweetheart, Gail Saxton, and went on to become one of Utah's most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders...as well as a Hall of Fame softball pitcher!
Leaving behind a profound professional and personal legacy that includes more than 80 businesses and properties in the western United States, the entities Larry created have had a significant and lasting impact on the communities in which he did business, and the more than 7,000 individuals he employed. Most notable are the Utah Jazz (a National Basketball Association team); Energy Solutions Arena; the Salt Lake Bees (a minor league baseball team and AAA affiliate of the Anaheim Angels); Miller Motorsports Park (a state-of-the-art road racing facility for automobiles, motorcycles, and karts, which at almost 4.5 miles, is the longest road racing course in North America); numerous Fanzz sports retail stores; KJZZ, a Utah television station; and numerous restuarants and Megaplex movie theatres along the Wasatch Front.
A tireless worker with a photographic memory and a knack for the most minute details, Larry began his automotive career working in parts at a Salt Lake City store in 1963. In 1968 he joined Peck and Shaw Toyota/GMC in Murray, Utah. Larry and his family then moved to Denver, Colorado in 1970, where he filled the role of parts manager for four and a half years, then general manager for two years. He was also an operations manager over a five-dealership network for two years. In 1979 Larry returned to Salt Lake City. The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies was born with the purchase of Toyota of Murray, and opened on May 1, 1979 as Larry H. Miller Toyota. In 1985 Larry acquired 50 percent of the Utah Jazz, and in the following year he and Gail became the sole owners of the Jazz. In 1991 Larry built the Delta Center, a 20,400 seat arena in downtown Salt Lake City (now known as Energy Solutions Arena). In 1993 he purchased Channel 14, a Salt Lake independent television station, and renamed it KJZZ-TV. Larry believed in a hands-on approach to business and was actively involved in most aspects of business operations.
In the years since Larry purchased his first dealership, he acquired dozens more. At the time of his passing, he owned 39 dealerships in 6 states, which sell nearly every vehicle make and model.
Larry was actively involved in the Toyota National Dealer Council, as well as church and civic affairs. He received an honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from the University of Utah in 1991 and has also received honorary doctorate degrees from Utah Valley State College and Salt Lake Community College.
One of Larry's special interests was fast pitch softball since he was, at one time, a world class pitcher himself. He was inducted into the ISC World Softball Hall of Fame in August 1992.
Larry and Gail provide close to 300 college scholarships each year. Larry H. Miller Charities has donated millions of dollars to communities in which Miller does business. "Larry and Gail have always stressed the importance of giving back to the communities in which we do business. Our customers have supported us and it is important that we show our appreciation by helping those in need," said Greg Miller, eldest son and CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. "Larry felt that his legacy isn't in business as much as it was in creating opportunities for good jobs and higher education."
Despite all of his success, Larry always maintained that his greatest accomplishment is the family that survives him: his wife, Karen Gail Saxton Miller, their four sons and one daughter, 21 grandchildren, and one great grandchild (at last count!).
Our Scion dealership is one of the premier Utah Scion dealerships in Murray, Utah, just 12 minutes away from Salt Lake City. At Larry H. Miller Toyota-Scion our commitment to customer service is second to none. We offer one of the most comprehensive Scion parts and Scion service departments in all of Utah.
Our primary concern is the satisfaction of our customers. Our online Scion dealership was created to enhance the buying experience for each and every one of our internet customers. Please feel free to call us at 801-264-3714 or send us an email by clicking on Request Information.
