Jamaican Olympic sprinter Lennox Miller, who won a silver medal in 1968 and a bronze in 1972 in the 100-metre dash, has died. He was 58.

Miller died Monday from cancer in Pasadena, the University of Southern California said in a statement.

Miller (second left, in white socks) during the final of the 100m at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He finished second in 10.04 behind Jim Hines, who won in a world record 9.95. Another American, Charles Greene, took the bronze in 10.07.

At USC, Miller ran the anchor leg on a sprint relay team including OJ Simpson, Earl McCullouch and Fred Kuller that set a world record in the 4x110-yard relay (38.6 seconds) in 1967.

Miller also set the world record in the indoor 100-yard dash in 1969. From 1967 to 1969, he was ranked among the top three in the world in the 100-metre dash.

His daughter, Inger, followed him into track and field, capturing a gold medal in the 4x100-metre relay for the United States at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Born in Kingston, Miller graduated from the USC School of Dentistry in 1973 and ran a practice in Pasadena for 30 years.

He is survived by his wife Avril and two daughters.

Sporting fraternity hails Miller

Dr Lennox "Billy" Miller was yesterday hailed by Jamaica's sporting fraternity as not only a great Jamaican Olympian, but perhaps a greater human being whose humility was an example for others to follow.

Sports Minister Portia Simpson Miller noted that "it was with a sense of sorrow" that she learnt of the passing of "one of the nation's finest sporting sons". She also hailed the former Kingston College athlete as a "champion and a true fighter".

Teddy McCook, the former Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) president and area representative for North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC), yesterday described Miller as a humble person who served the country very well.

"His humility is something that should be patterned by our youngsters today, and it is only a pity that he has gone on so early, because I believe that Lennox could have been a tremendous source of leadership and example to our young athletes," McCook said.

"Lennox was a great athlete who contributed so much, not only at high school but also at the University of Southern California and then finally when wearing the Jamaican national colours. He was a member of two world record teams, one at the University of Southern California and the other as a member of the Jamaican 4X100-metre relay team at the Mexico Olympics.

"We all miss him and it is the responsibility of the track and field family in Jamaica to ensure that we give continued support to this wonderful family," added McCook.
And former team-mate and protégé, another great Jamaican Olympian Donald Quarrie was still trying to come to terms with the passing of Miller when the Observer contacted him at his California home yesterday.

"It is a very sad occasion," said Quarrie, who visited Miller's home with his family on Monday.
"He was my friend, my mentor as far as athletics was concerned, and an individual that guided me in my early years when I just came here to California, which did contribute to my success in many ways.

"He was a first-class person off the track and when you speak of Lennox Miller, you don't just speak of him as a sprinter, a Dentist, but as an individual who set examples for others to follow.
"He never ever wanted conflict, that's one thing I can say about Lennox, he always wanted to work things out and he never ever gets mad," added Quarrie.

Meanwhile, veteran sports administrator and head of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) Howard Aris, who coached Miller at KC and on the international stage, said "it is a great loss to the country and a personal loss".
And Aleen Bailey, a member of Jamaica's women's 4X100-metres relay gold medal winning team offered her condolences to the Miller family yesterday, especially daughter Inger, with whom she is personally acquainted with through track and field.

Bailey admitted that she "doesn't know much" about Lennox Miller, but what she does know is that "he was a great Jamaican Olympian who in his time did Jamaica proud by his exploits in Mexico and Germany, and who helped in a considerable way to pave the way for the current crop of athletes and their current success".

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