Miller is named 27th 'Giant in Our City'

For a man who seems to own just about everything in Utah, Larry H. Miller was given one more distinction Wednesday night, when a close friend and former employee deemed him "king."

Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton remembered Miller for his locker-room antics and gave him high praise.

"It's good to be the king, and Larry is the king," Stockton said.

Miller, a man known for always being willing to speak his mind, was given a giant award by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce as he was named Salt Lake's 27th "Giant in Our City."

"He is the epitome of why this award was created," said Lane Beattie, the chamber's president and chief executive officer. "He is the greatest example of what business leaders across our state have an opportunity to become."

More than 1,600 of Miller's biggest supporters gathered at the Grand America's Grand Ballroom to honor him and his business practices, and for helping Utah's economy to grow.

Miller said he was "grateful and blessed to have developed resources that have helped to make people's lives better along the way."

The multimillionaire's accomplishments include ownership of more than 43 car dealerships in six states, two sports teams in Utah, multiple buildings, franchises and restaurants. He also owns an independent television station and at least five movie megaplexes, as well as 3,000 head of cattle and the longest road-course style racetrack in North America.

Miller also attracted international attention early last year when he pulled the movie "Brokeback Mountain" from one of his movie theaters because of its homosexual content. On Wednesday, former Jazz center John Amaechi became the first NBA player to publicly disclose that he is gay and said he had experienced anti-gay innuendo from Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan while in Utah. Miller did not comment about Amaechi at the event Wednesday.

A recent Dan Jones & Associates poll found that nine out of 10 Utahns have done business with Miller in one way or another.

The Giant in our City award was established in 1969 and is presented periodically, according to a unanimous vote of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce's board of governors. Past recipients of the award include former Gov. Calvin R. Rampton and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com