Spring commencement at the University of Missouri Rolla will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 13, in UMR’s Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building, 10th Street and Bishop Avenue in Rolla. UMR graduate James Ronald Miller will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate.         

Approximately 700 degrees will be awarded during commencement. In addition to Miller’s honorary doctorate, 11 honorary professional degrees will be awarded.         

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at UMR in 1964. He enjoyed a 36-year career with Procter & Gamble, where he rose through the ranks as a multi-faceted professional. He was a business manager, plant manager, U.S. product supply manager for the coffee products and beverage division, European product supply manager for laundry and cleaning products, and vice president of worldwide supply for laundry products. Miller’s final promotion was to vice president and general manager at Procter & Gamble Worldwide for tissue, towels and facial products.        

Miller has served numerous professional and civic organizations in the communities in which he has lived, including the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way and the Chamber of Commerce in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He has served on the Board of Directors of Boatmen’s Bank, the American Red Cross and Hope Network Ministries.         

Miller was an honors student at UMR and an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He is a founding member of the UMR Academy of Civil Engineers. He is a member of UMR’s Order of the Golden Shillelagh and a member and immediate past president of the UMR Board of Trustees. UMR previously awarded Miller an honorary professional degree.                     

Miller and his wife Janice have a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.         

UMR will also honor three retiring administrators with emeritus degrees during commencement. The emeritus degrees will be awarded to Dr. Arlan DeKock, dean of the School of Management and Information Systems; Dr. Ron Fannin, professor and chair of interdisciplinary engineering; and Dr. Bob Mitchell, dean of the School of Engineering.