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SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
December 22, 2011
W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Long time Wayne resident and
noted attorney Murray James
Millar, 83, diedDec. 13 at home.
After graduating from Detroit
College of Law, Mr. Millar and
Richard Weinberg, founded
Millar, Weinberg, Necker &
Johnson in 1958. For more than 30
years, the firm provided a wide
variety of legal services for resi-
dents of westernWayneCounty.
Mr. Millar retired from the
practice of law in 1990, but
remained active in the communi-
ty. He served for many years on
the
Wayne
Downtown
Development Authority and was a
member of theWayne 100, a chari-
table organization than makes
annual contributions to needy
individuals and groups.
Mr. Millar was also a well
known and active member of the
Wayne Rotary Club, which he
joined in 1960.
He was an enthusiastic sup-
porter of its programs and exem-
plified the Rotary motto of
“Service Above Self” according to
several club members. He was a
past president of the club and a
Paul HarrisFellow.
He was especially active in the
annual Wayne Christmas Parade
and chicken barbeques sponsored
by theWayneRotary Club.
Mr. Millar was born March 17,
1928. He joined the United States
Marine Corps after his graduation
from Wayne High School and was
a member of the Marine Air
Casual Squadron Eleven in
Cherry Point, NC.
Mr. Millar married his high
school sweetheart, Bernice
Greenawait, in 1949, three years
after the pair graduated from
WayneHighSchool in 1946.
Both were active pilots and
flew their Cessna SkyLane around
the state and much of the country.
They would often fly to Mackinac
Island. Inveterate travelers, the
couple made numerous trips to
Russia, Egypt and other parts of
Africa, Europe and China and the
FarEast.
The couple maintained close
friendships with many of the
exchange students from China
and were actively involved in the
WayneCouples Club.
Bridge was another of their
hobbies and they hosted many
social gatherings in their Wayne
home onElmStreet.
Among his survivors, in addi-
tion to his wife, is his sister,
Patricia
Knickerbocker;
nephews, Todd Knickerbocker,
Alan Millar, Dave Millar, Gary
Millar and Russell Kingman and
nieces, Diana Patterson, Amy
Knickerbocker, Kandra Attwood,
Becky Kridel, Cheryl Kingman,
andRuthAnnKoloski.
Mr. Millar was preceded in
death by his parents Duncan and
Leonora Millar; two brothers,
Keith and Russell Millar and his
sister, JeanKingman.
Father Jack Baker officiated at
services lastMonday forMr. Millar
and final cremation rites were
accorded.
In lieu of flowers or memorials,
the family has suggested gifts to
theWayneRotaryFoundation.
Murray James Millar
Area mourns death of Murray Millar, 83
Last Friday, was a big day in
Westland.
The city honored legendary
morning radio personality Jim
Harper, who has announced plans
to retire from MAGIC 105.1 tomor-
row. MayorWilliamR. Wild issued
an official resolution making Dec.
16, 2011, "Jim Harper Day" and
presented the radio personality a
key to the city.
"Generations of Michigan resi-
dents, including myself, have
grown up listening to radio legend
Jim Harper in the morning. He
made the gloomiest days bright
with his wit and banter. I knowmy
morning coffee won't taste the
same when Jim signs off for the
final time. He was more than a
radio personality. He was part of
us and he made us all better. We
wish him all the best in his retire-
ment", said Wild.
Born in Hamtramck and raised
in Westland, Harper started in
radio in 1967 at age 13 at WYNZ
(AM) in Ypsilanti, hosting a week-
end show about teen issues. He
moved to Texas in 1976 and briefly
hosted an evening show onKXYZ-
AM.
Harper later returned to
Michigan to serve as program
director and midday host at
WDRQ-FM. He also did a short
stint at WNIC-FM, first as a morn-
ing host, program director and
later as vice president of opera-
tions. Harper worked at several
stations in Metro Detroit before
joining Magic 105.1/WMGC-FM in
July 2001 as the morning host and
operationsmanager.
Harper, a John Glenn High
School graduate, has received
numerous honors throughout his
career including Best Radio
Personality of 2008 by Ambassador
Magazine and Best Radio Voice of
2008 byHourDetroit.
Radio personality Jim Harper and Westland Mayor William Wild smile
during the key to the city presentation last week.
Honored
Mayor presents key to city to retiring radio personality