GREENSBORO, N.C. -- William 'Fishbait' Miller, a colorful figure who served as doorkeeper of the House of Representatives for nearly 25 years, has died after a long illness. He was 80.
Miller, who introduced six presidents at joint sessions of Congress in his long tenure and wrote a book about the politically powerful in Washington, died of a heart attack at his home Tuesday.
After leaving Washington, Miller had moved to Greensboro to be near his family.
For years Miller would stride into the House chamber, and bellow 'Mister Speaker, the president of the United States ' in his native Mississippi accent.
The joint session of Congress would applaud, and Miller would take a seat at the front of the chamber.
'I'll never forget his introducing of presidents in that stentorian voice of his,' recalled former U.S. Sen. James T. Broyhill, R-N.C.
During his 25 years as House doorkeeper, Miller introduced Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford when they appeared to address the Congress.
Despite the simple title, Miller's job entailed more than introducing presidents.
He supervised 357 government workers -- messengers, pages, restroom workers, janitors and a $3.5 million budget.
Miller first went to Washington in 1933 at the request of William Collmer, who he had just helped get elected from the state's 6th Congressional District.
Miller rose from a clerk in the House to messenger, sergeant-at-arms and finally to the relatively powerful post of doorkeeper.
Except for one session, Miller held the job until 1974 when the House Democratic majority did not re-elect him.
Miller returned to Mississippi and co-authored a book, 'Fishbait' about his experiences in Washignton, touching on the personal lives and exploits of many of the powerful and influential in government.
After writing the book, Miller and his wife, Mabel, moved to Greensboro to be near his daughter, Sarah-Patsy Knight, and her family.
Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home, in Hattiesburg, Miss.
