Dr. Dane Miller ‘69 created a legacy as an innovator and entrepreneur in the biomedical industry as well as a devoted philanthropist who passionately supported many causes and institutions.

Miller, who passed away on Feb. 10, 2015, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Materials Science Engineering from Kettering (then General Motors Institute) and served on the Kettering University Board of Trustees.

Miller was a co-founder of Biomet, Inc., in 1978, and served as president and CEO through his retirement in 2006, overseeing its growth into a global company with annual sales exceeding $2 billion.

“Dr. Miller’s incredible professional achievements in industry as well as his selfless generosity in support of numerous philanthropic passions serves as a tremendous example for all of our students as we convey the importance of not only pursuing professional excellence, but also being citizens actively engaged in creating a better world,” said Kettering University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan. “Dr. Miller was a devoted advocate and friend of Kettering University whose support created new opportunities for students to attend Kettering through scholarships and allowed us to bolster curriculum and create new and robust programs of study. Most importantly, we were given the priceless gifts of his time and expertise on a regular basis. His involvement and friendship to the countless individuals he inspired within the Kettering community will be deeply missed.”

Miller served on Kettering’s Board of Trustees since 1991, and was a member of the Academic Affairs, Student Life and Institutional Advancement/Alumni Affairs committees.

“Dr. Miller’s impact on Kettering University cannot be overstated,” said Jeff Owens ‘78, chairman of the Kettering University Board of Trustees. “He was a tremendous advocate for the University, a passionate supporter of a wide range of programs and organizations within the Kettering community and an incredible role model and mentor for so many students, alumni, faculty, staff and fellow board members. His leadership and insight will be missed by all who had the privilege of spending time with him.”

Miller, who was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2010, and his wife Mary Louise have supported a wide range of initiatives at Kettering, including the Kettering Crash Safety Center, SAE student competition teams, scholarships and Kettering’s chapter of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. In 2007, a $1.2 million gift from the Millers allowed Kettering to establish the Dane and Mary Louise Miller Life Sciences and Bioengineering Laboratories. The labs have been instrumental in allowing Kettering faculty to enhance curriculum and hands-on opportunities for students in life sciences and bioengineering courses as well as students in the pre-med course of study.

Dr. Massoud Tavakoli, Kettering University professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the University’s Innovation to Entrepreneurship Across the University (i2e AU) program, participated in a faculty-industry internship program  in the mid-1990s and worked for Miller at Biomet for two six-month periods. That experience helped Tavakoli start what has today become the Bioengineering Concentration in Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering program.

“This was a pioneering initiative at Kettering because the University had no exposure to Bioengineering until that time,” Tavakoli said. “With Dane’s approval, Biomet provided a grant to develop and support the concentration for three years until it became part of the Kettering curriculum.”

Support from the Millers has also led to increased opportunities for students and for faculty research  in occupant safety and the pre-med course of study.

"I am grateful to Dane Miller for having been an early and continuous supporter of educating Kettering engineers for the medical industry,” Tavakoli said. “The idea of teaching Bioengineering Sciences at Kettering was viewed by some as a departure from then-GMI's traditional course of study and Dane’s vision and support was a driving force in our ability to create opportunities in those areas.”

As president and CEO of Biomet, based in Warsaw, Indiana, and recognized as one of the most successful orthopedic companies in the world, Miller gained a reputation as not only a successful businessman, but also an innovative leader. Miller was known for empowering employees to make decisions, take risks and actively engage with customers. That’s a model Miller followed himself -- according to a 2008 biography of Miller entitled The Maverick CEO: Dane Miller and the Story of Biomet, Miller was known to share his personal contact information with customers, dine with employees in the company cafeteria and personally answer his own office phone. The book’s author, Patrick Kavanaugh, notes that Miller grew the company based on, “compassion, hard work and loyalty.”

“It’s impossible in one short statement to give justice to his impact on our company, on our industry,” current Biomet CEO Jeff Binder said in a statement. “Dane Miller was a true pioneer both in regard to development of new technologies and in the management and development of Biomet’s unique work environment and culture.”

Miller’s career in industry started as a student at Kettering. He was a co-op employee with Frigidaire Division, GMC, in Dayton, Ohio, and later worked for Zimmer U.S.A. as the director of biomedical engineering and for Cutter Laboratories before starting Biomet. He completed his master’s degree and doctorate in Materials Science at the University of Cincinnati.

Miller’s industry accomplishments have earned him international acclaim, including being recognized by President Ronald Reagan during National Small Business Week in 1984, receiving the Small Business Administration National Entrepreneurial Success Award from President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and receiving the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He was also named Business Week's Top Performing CEO in delivering results to shareholders, Arthur Young and Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989, Warsaw Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2000, Chief Executive Magazine’s most efficient shareholder wealth creator in Corporate America in 2002 and received the Phoenix Lifetime Achievement Award, Healthcare Industry, in 2009.

Miller was also a fixture in the community in Indiana and with his and Mary Louise’s alma maters, supporting a wide range of causes including the Orthopedic Research and Educational Foundation, Combined Community Services, Grace College Winona Lake, Helps International, University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System, Winona Lake’s restoration project, the Dean's Council for the College of Engineering at University of Cincinnati, American Society for Testing and Materials, International Society of Biomaterials, Orthopedic Research Society, Board of Directors for 1st Source Bank of South Bend, Board of Directors for University of Chicago Hospital, Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Fellow for the National Academy of Engineering, member of the Board of Directors of Orthopedic Device Forum, Board Member of the Biotronic NeuroNetwork, Board of Directors of the Indiana Development and Economic Committee (IDEC) and Board of Directors at the University of Cincinnati.

“Indiana lost a giant in the passing of Dane Miller,” said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence in a statement. “Dane Miller was one of our state’s most successful entrepreneurs, a pioneer in the orthopedic industry and he will be deeply missed. Dane Miller was also a modest man who loved his family and never lost the common touch. (Indiana First Lady) Karen (Pence) and I send our deepest sympathies to his beloved wife Mary Louise, his family, friends and all who admired this remarkable Hoosier.”

Miller is survived by his wife Mary Louise, two daughters, four grandchildren, two brothers and a sister. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made to:

Innovative Cancer Therapy Fund
Dr. Yogen Saunthararajah
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave, R40
Cleveland, OH 44195

St. Anne's Episcopal Church
424 W. Market St.
Warsaw, IN 46580

Women's Care Center Foundation
360 N. Notre Dame Ave.
South Bend, IN 46617