Honorees

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Year Honored
2008
Honoree
Richard A Miller
Agency
Eagle Air Med
Agency City
Blanding
Agency State
UT
Last Call
10/4/07
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
Richard was a highly skilled and intelligent person. His careers included service in the Marine Corps, firefighter, paramedic, pilot, sheriff and veterinarian. "Ric was a man who not only smiled with his mouth, but also with eyes that twinkled," said his wife, Karen. "Ric lived in celebration of life and cherished each day he lived, hoping those he cared for would live their lives in the same manner.".<br /> <br /> Richard Albert "Ric" Miller Jr., 46, of Wenatchee, Washington, was killed in the line of duty on October 4, 2007. He was piloting the air ambulance with a medical team aboard to conduct a patient transport. The team that departed Chinle, Arizona was en route to Alamosa, Colorado when the accident occurred. The pilot performed a routine contact with the communications center giving arrival time in Colorado; after that transmission, all contact was lost. The wreckage was located the following day near Charley's Peak, Colorado. There were no survivors.<br /> <br /> Mr. Miller was a full-time pilot for Eagle Air Med, based in Chinle, Arizona. He had previously been in the U.S. Marine Corps and served during peace and conflict overseas, active duty and reserves. "Miller held helicopter and fixed-wing pilot certificates and was airline-transport-pilot rated," the company said. He had more than 12,000 hours of logged flight time, including 2,400 in the Marine Corps.<br /> <br /> "Pilot Miller had a record of no accidents or violations in his 22 years of flying," a spokesman for Eagle Air Medical stated.<br /> <br /> Honored 2008