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Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert hands businesswoman Gail Miller the Pillar of the Valley award during a ceremony at the Utah Valley Convention Center on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Gail Miller stands with former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Curtis Blair, Larry H, Miller Co. board of directors Chairman Steve Miller and others on stage during Pillar of the Valley award ceremony Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Memorabilia highlighting some of Gail Miller's contributions to Utah sports are displayed during the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce's Pillar of the Valley award ceremony Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Businesswoman Gail Miller accepts the 2024 Pillar of the Valley award during a Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce gala at the Utah Valley Convention Center on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks prior to presenting Gail Miller with the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce's Pillar of the Valley award Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Pillar of the Valley gala is an annual event recognizing people who have made selfless and impactful contributions across Utah Valley through efforts leading to opportunities for people of all walks of life in business, civic duty, social justice and philanthropy.

The chamber chose businesswoman Gail Miller as its 2024 recipient for the honor.

Miller is the co-founder and owner of the Larry H. Miller Co. and chair of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation.

When her late husband, Larry, died in 2009, Miller took an active role in the business and continued to build on its legacy.

The Miller name is synonymous with entertainment throughout the state, from past or current ownership of the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake Bees and Megaplex movie theater complexes, to name a few.

Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce President Curtis Blair acknowledged Miller’s reach in the Salt Lake Valley and Utah County but said her work goes beyond sports and movies.

“Every university in Utah County has been a (beneficiary) of her goodness and kindness, both from philanthropy, financial donations, giving up her resources of her team to be behind initiatives that help elevate education,” Blair told the Daily Herald.

In 2022, The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation donated $3 million to create a perpetual directorship at Utah Valley University’s Center for Constitutional Studies.

She’s been on the Entrepreneurship Founders board at Brigham Young University since 2011.

Miller’s most recent efforts include her work with the new Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi, as well as the opening of a new state-of-the-art assisted living facility, Aspen Ridge Residences, also in Lehi.

“I love the fact that she is one of the first to step up. When it comes to home insecurity or food insecurity or those that are marginalized, she finds a way to reach into the cracks of Utah County and help lift those that wouldn’t otherwise have a hand left,” Blair said of Miller.

Miller accepted the award Wednesday evening during the Pillar of the Valley ceremony at the Utah Valley Convention Center.

The night was filled with thoughtful messages about Miller’s work, plus food and entertainment by The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater.

Miller was presented the award by her son Steve Miller, chairman of the board of directors for the Larry H. Miller Co., and former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

Miller spoke for about 20 minutes, emphasizing how important gratitude, leadership, education and philanthropy are in her personal and community life, as well as telling her journey from a care-free childhood to life as an entrepreneur.

“The ’80s and the ’90s were spent building our company and securing our future, with many adventures and some accomplishments that we had never even dreamed of having,” Miller told a packed room inside the convention center. “Those years were an interesting journey in their own learning and they lasted over 30 years, until Larry died.”

She also reflected on her life since the passing of her husband. Expressing gratitude for the opportunities she’s had to use her voice to help influence others around her and in the communities.

“Like many of you, I embrace the unexpected when it presented itself and I learned not only to make the most of my situation, but I also learned to work hard to influence others around me and I am grateful for the foundation that Larry built for me to stand on,” an emotional Miller said.

Miller shared some key principles she’s learned throughout her life in how to lead with love. Those include practicing kindness, serving others, being patient and forgiving, keeping money in perspective and expressing gratitude.

She ended by thanking the chamber for recognizing her as a pillar in Utah Valley and encouraged individuals to use their energy to affect change for the betterment of their communities and families.

“The future is bright. We each have a lot to give. We can make everything we touch better, if that is our desire,” she said.

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