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{{Infobox person

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Roderick Luke Miller

|name=Roderick Luke Miller

|image=

|image=

|birth_place=Reddell, Evangeline Parish<br>[[Louisiana]]

|birth_place=Reddell, Evangeline Parish<br>[[Louisiana]]

|death_date=January 15, 2005

|death_date=January 15, 2005

|offices=

|office=Louisiana State Representative for Lafayette Parish

Louisiana State Representative

|term_start=March 1966

|district=Lafayette Parish

|term_end=May 1968

|preceded=Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr.

|term_start=March 1966

|succeeded=

        |term_end=May 1968

|preceded=Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr.

|succeeded=

}}

}}

'''Roderick Luke Miller''', known as '''Rod Miller''' (October 20, 1924—January 15, 2005), was a Lafayette attorney and a pioneer in the development of the [[Republican Party]] in [[Louisiana]]. He was the third Republican since [[Reconstruction]] to be elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the first ever from Lafayette Parish, subsequently one of the stronger Republican-leaning parishes in the state. Miller served half of a legislative term from 1966-1968. He was also a member of the Republican State Central Committee and the Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee. Prior to his death, he had received his party's "Lifetime Service Award."

'''Roderick Luke Miller''', also known as '''Rod Miller''' (October 20, 1924 &ndash; January 15, 2005), was a Lafayette [[attorney]] and a pioneer in the development of the [[Republican Party]] in [[Louisiana]]. He was the third Republican since [[Reconstruction]] to be elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the first ever from Lafayette Parish, subsequently one of the stronger Republican-leaning parishes in the state. Miller served half of a legislative term from 1966 to 1968. He was also a member of the Republican State Central Committee and the Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee. Prior to his death, he had received his party's "Lifetime Service Award."

==Early life==

==Early life==

In 1972, Miller challenged Mouton for state senate reelection and lost again. Mouton polled 18,771 votes (62.2 percent) to Miller's 11,395 (37.8 percent). In defeat, Miller still ran 8.5 percentage points ahead of Republican gubernatorial candidate [[David C. Treen]] in Lafayette Parish.

In 1972, Miller challenged Mouton for state senate reelection and lost again. Mouton polled 18,771 votes (62.2 percent) to Miller's 11,395 (37.8 percent). In defeat, Miller still ran 8.5 percentage points ahead of Republican gubernatorial candidate [[David C. Treen]] in Lafayette Parish.

Mouton served in the state Senate from 1966-1980 and ran for governor, as senate president pro tempore, in the 1979 jungle primary. He finished in sixth place with 124,333 votes (9.1 percent). Though Mouton was considered one of the more liberal candidates in the governor's race, he surprised observers by endorsing Republican Treen in the general election. Treen was then making his second gubernatorial bid. After his narrow election, Treen named Mouton as his executive counsel. Mouton succeeded Edmund Reggie of Crowley, who was the counsel to outgoing Governor Edwin Washington Edwards, also of Crowley.

Mouton served in the state Senate from 1966 to 1980 and ran for governor, as senate president pro tempore, in the 1979 jungle primary. He finished in sixth place with 124,333 votes (9.1 percent). Though Mouton was considered one of the more liberal candidates in the governor's race, he surprised observers by endorsing Republican Treen in the general election. Treen was then making his second gubernatorial bid. After his narrow election, Treen named Mouton as his executive counsel. Mouton succeeded Edmund Reggie of Crowley, who was the counsel to outgoing Governor Edwin Washington Edwards, also of Crowley.

Mouton said that he and Miller "stayed close friends" by keeping politics and friendships separate. They were sworn in together in 1953 as the 46th and 47th attorneys in Lafayette Parish, Mouton said. The two helped to start the Hub City Kiwanis Club, and both were members of the Catholic men's organization, the Knights of Columbus.

Mouton said that he and Miller "stayed close friends" by keeping politics and friendships separate. They were sworn in together in 1953 as the 46th and 47th attorneys in Lafayette Parish, Mouton said. The two helped to start the Hub City Kiwanis Club, and both were members of the Catholic men's organization, the Knights of Columbus.

"He was a good man. He had high ethics, and he was a good lawyer. His word was his bond. You could trust him completely. He left a good heritage. He will be missed. He was one of those who brought the Republican Party into a viable position in Lafayette Parish," Mouton said on the death of his friend and former political opponent.

"He was a good man. He had high ethics, and he was a good lawyer. His word was his bond. You could trust him completely. He left a good heritage. He will be missed. He was one of those who brought the Republican Party into a viable position in Lafayette Parish," Mouton said on the death of his friend and former political opponent.

==Civic interests==

==Civic interests==

In addition to Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus, Miller was a member of the Carmelite Men's Guild, the American Legion, and was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Acadiana Barbershop Chorus and the Four Fathers Quartet. His interest in the preservation of his native French language led Miller, a widower, to meet his second wife, Jane Brinkhaus Gaiennie Miller.

In addition to Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus, Miller was a member of the Carmelite Men's Guild, the American Legion, and was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Acadiana Barbershop Chorus and the Four Fathers Quartet. His interest in the preservation of his native French language led Miller, a widower, to meet his second wife, Jane Brinkhaus Gaiennie Miller.

He was a member of the Christ the King Church of Lafayette. A conservative in theology as well as politics, Miller was opposed to changes in the church after Vatican II and supported priests and those bishops who remained faithful to the Mass of Pope Pius V.

He was a member of the Christ the King Church of Lafayette. A [[conservative]] in theology as well as politics, Miller was opposed to changes in the church after Vatican II and supported priests and those bishops who remained faithful to the Mass of Pope Pius V.