Creighton Miller, an all-American halfback who was a member of a prominent Notre Dame football family and later helped organize the National Football League Players Association as its lawyer, died last week in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He was 79.
Miller's body was found Friday at his apartment after he had been absent from his law office in Cleveland. He had a heart attack, said Dr. Elizabeth Balraj, the Cuyahoga County coroner.
Miller starred for the 1943 Notre Dame squad that was 9-1 and ranked No. 1 in the country. He led the nation in rushing, gaining 911 yards, scored 13 touchdowns and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, which was won by Angelo Bertelli, the Notre Dame quarterback.
Miller's father, Harry, was the Notre Dame football captain in 1908 and an all-American halfback in 1909. Four uncles played for Notre Dame, most notably Don Miller, one of the Four Horsemen, the famous 1924 backfield. His uncle Ray was an end for Notre Dame in 1911 and '12 and mayor of Cleveland in the early 1930's. His brother Tom, a halfback, was his teammate in 1941 and '42.