Lee Miller, Long-Time Float Maker for Rose Parade, Dies
Lee Miller, who for many years was the major float maker for Pasadena’s annual Tournament of Roses Parade, died Monday in Huntington Beach. He was 81 and had retired to Orange County.
Miller, a one-time Alhambra florist, had been making floats since 1925 and in one year alone--1967--designed and constructed 11 of the 60 floats in the Rose Parade. That year he spent more than $150,000 for more than 5 million individual blossoms for his 11 floats. While most were indigenous to Southern California, several species had to be imported from Holland, Mexico, Florida and the state of Washington.
He averaged building from 10 to 12 floats each New Year’s Day, said Warner Jenkins of the Alhambra Post Advocate, a long-time friend.
In addition to the Rose Parade, Miller--from a four-acre site in Temple City--made floats for the Los Angeles County Fair and for many neighboring Southland cities.
His survivors include his wife, Juanita, and two sons.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
