Most Excellent Companion
Michael Lee Miller
Grand High Priest
Royal Arch Masons of California
Michael Lee Miller was born September 21, 1951, in Aurora, Illinois, a city 40 miles west of Chicago. He attended public schools in Aurora and graduated from East High School in 1969. Mike was a dedicated Boy Scout achieving the rank of Eagle with 32 merit badges. He then traveled to Miami, Florida graduating with a BBA in Economics from the University of Miami in 1973. He was brother of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity and served a number of years as News Anchor for WVUM radio. Mike and his wife Martha Doran first met in 1974 and married in 1986.
Returning to the Chicago area, he worked for several manufacturing and brokerage entities before settling on a career in finance with construction and real estate development companies. Mike continued his education while working full time, taking numerous courses in accounting and finance. He qualified for and passed the CPA exam and then received an MBA in Finance with distinction from DePaul University in 1988. After working for a number of leading corporations: Seay and Thomas, Jack Nicklaus Development Company, Hoffman Homes and General Growth Properties as a controller and finance director he was recruited to join the prominent developer, JH Snyder Company in Los Angeles as Chief Accounting Officer in 2001. Mike then completed his career as the Chief Financial Officer of CenterCal Properties and retired.
Needing some activities to fill his free time in retirement and having passed by Culver City-Foshay Lodge daily while on his way to work, Mike entered the building on a Sunday morning for a Meet the Masters get together. Not knowing a soul but being warmly greeted and encouraged by the brothers, he petitioned the lodge, received his degrees, and was raised to the degree of Master Mason on 12/12/12. Immediately pressed into service, he moved through the line becoming Master of the Lodge in 2017, our centennial year. After his year as Master he continued to serve as a coach, advisor and substitute officer. He received the Hiram Award from Culver City-Foshay in 2023.
Michael has been particularly active in the York and Scottish Rite appendant bodies. He has served the Scottish Rite Valley of Los Angeles as General Secretary, Master of Kadosh and has been honored as a 32nd Degree KCCH. Mike served the Santa Monica York Rite Bodies as High Priest of the Royal Arch, Illustrious Master of Cryptic Masons, Commander of Knights Templar and Sovereign Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees . He has been elected to the Los Angeles Priory KYCH, Glenwood York Rite College, and the Royal Order of Scotland. Mike has been awarded the Grand High Priest Distinguished Service Medal by the California Royal Arch Masons and Grand Master Ish Sodi by the Cryptic Masons of California.
Michael was appointed Grand Marshal of the South by the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons in 2019 and served as the Inspector of District 21 of the Royal Arch 2020-2023. He was been appointed to the grand progressive line of the Royal Arch Masons in 2022 and currently serves as Grand High Priest of the State of California.