LA PALMA : City Council Honors Family of the Year

A La Palma couple who have nine children and six grandchildren have been named the city’s 1994-95 Family of the Year.

The City Council on Tuesday night honored Linda and Dennis Miller and their family, who were selected by a volunteer committee.

The Millers have lived in La Palma for 24 years. They have five daughters and four sons, ranging in age from 11 to 31.

Dennis Miller, who owns his own landscaping business, said he thinks a key to having a successful family is treating each child, regardless of age, as a person with rights and dignity.

“Each person deserves love and respect,” he said. “I’ve always told my children that they have the right to tell me when they feel wronged. I say, ‘Let’s sit down and talk about it.’ And it could be something I’ve handled incorrectly. You know, even though you are a small child, you have your rights.”

He said that he and his wife, Linda, a homemaker, encourage a minimum of television watching and a fondness for books and reading. The family sticks together and does many things together, he said.

Mayor Wally Linn, who knows the Millers, told the council that the family’s togetherness includes much volunteer work at Kennedy High School and in other community efforts.

“I can assure you that they give of themselves beyond the normal call of duty,” the mayor said. “If there was ever a job to be done at Kennedy High School--I don’t care what it was--they were there to help.”

The Millers received a commemorative plaque and a proclamation from the council.