We partied…Libby and I lip-synched to “Steam Heat” and  “I’m So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters. (I was in a store the other day and my eyes welled up with tears when the latter song was played on the music loop).  Darrell and I played George and Martha at one party, and Darrell always had to do his famous “Prologue to Paradise Lost”  as Gomer Pyle.  We all cheerfully recited our little tag “Aaron and Mary went to the library at Vandy” in the deeply Southern accent of our  Milton professor.

The Lit. Crit. class was special.  I can remember Jack Culross leaning against the blackboard in sheer amazement at us.  I strongly suspect that was the same night that Danny said that he had a large  reunion picture of Chang and Eng and their families and “there they sat, on the back row side by side”, at which we all laughed and said, “Well, where else would they be?”  and never let him forget what he had said.

During those days in Grad School Danny and I  went Country Dancing at Berea, and picked daffodils along the roadside.  We spent many hours at my folk’s house on West Main St. in Richmond.  I came to know Danny’s mother well, and we shared Christmas cards and notes until her death. Danny came to my mother’s funeral and my father’s, and when I heard that Libby’s mother, my dear friend from Model Lab School, had died, he was the first person I called, because I didn’t know how to get in touch with Libby.

Danny and Darrell came to my wedding to Harold at the Chapel of Meditation at EKU in 1976, and to our daughter’s wedding in Muncie in 1999.  Danny and I  emailed and/or talked on the phone when our lives separated by my move west.  But whenever I was back in the area he would come and see me whenever he could in Richmond, and we would get together in Cincinnati when I came to visit my Aunt Helene.  We kept up with each others careers and I was so honored to have him remember me in the Introduction  to “Wingless Flights”.   He called me Dear Heart and our conversations too always ended with “I love you”.

I never imagined my life without Danny  in it.  The memories make it bearable, but I still miss not being able to email or call him and talk to him, to hear his voice saying my name and as usual, his wanting to know all about me, while I had to drag anything about him out of him.

So, Dear Heart, sleep well.  You are missed and loved.

Chris                                                P.S.  Libby, if you read this I’m at cmsmith@butler.edu

I was jolted overboard.  The buoyant wordrobe of Auden provided some Mae West-esque form of rescue.  Simply speaking, I am very grateful to have met Dr. Miller.  On behalf of the NKU Horticulture Department, we were extremely  appreciative of his input, questions and just plain friendliness.  Dr. Miller exuded enamoration as he actively  served the campus community and beyond.  I plan to further learn more from his writings and cherish what is yet to be…   John  NKU Hort. Dept. since 12/97

This is a photo taken at Lake Cumberland State Resort Dock in August 2008.

Doctor Miller was one of the nicest, most caring men that I have evermet.  I remember that I had Doctor Miller’s “American Short Story” class right before I went to take a class in England with what was then known as CCSB  –  the center for in Great Britain.  In fact, I remember telling Doctor Miller that I would probably wind up missing the last class or two of his that semester, but Doctor Miller was just a joy to have as a professor  –  that is why I said what I said about him in the Alumni Magazine  –  Doctor Miller was more interested in just teaching me while I was in class.  Doctor Miller’s class was the most interesting literature class that I took as an English Literature major, just because of Doctor Miller’s enthusiasm in presenting the subject matter and the fact that every class, no matter what, Doctor Miller showed up and was excited to be talking about what we had to learn in class that day.

     What was also so amazing was when I found out that Doctor Miller was a cousin of mine, I nearly fell over when I found out.  I remember finding out in either July or August of 2003, at a family reunion from a mutual cousin of Doctor Miller and myself  –  Sharon Hatfield  –  who had also written a book with Doctor Miller, just that year.  I remember that my response was something to the effect of “Get out of town!!  Doctor Miller is just one of the sweetest, kindest men in that department and he’s a great educator!!”

    I remember looking Doctor Miller up a few months later, when I was on campus to look some stuff up for a class that I was taking in Chase Law Library to ask Doctor Miller if he was related to a person named Ely Davis. When I asked Doctor Miller if he was related to a guy named Ely Davis, Doctor Miller said that he was related to Ely Davis and that Ely Davis was Doctor Miller’s uncle.  I was just amazed that I was even related to such a kind and caring educator, who made me want to go on with my college education, even though there were times where I got frustrated and I wanted to give up going to college.

     I wish that I could thank Doctor Miller for being the inspiration that I have to want to go on and get my Master’s Degree in English Writing.  I just wish now that I had gotten that letter of recommendation from Doctor Miller now, but like an old acquaintance of mine said to me at the memorial service reception:  “Just say that you’re a friend of Doctor Miller and you’ll be fine.”

    God speed and good night, Doctor Miller.  I hope that you know what a great inspiration that you were to all of us to become better people, Doctor Miller!

I had the distinct privilege of taking Danny’s Bible as Literature course two years later, and it was one of the most amazing courses I have ever taken. Danny’s course gave me confidence in my writing, in my work as an academic, and offered me a renewed love of literature and of the Bible as a work of literature.

Danny was not only an amazing teacher–I cannot begin to articulate how much I learned from him–but he was a great inspiration to me both as a teacher and as a human being. When I decided to apply to graduate programs, Danny was one of my greatest cheerleaders. When I decided to dedicate my life to teaching, Danny was one of my role models–I have borrowed so much of my classroom identity from him. I have rarely met a more dedicated teacher, and I can only hope to be half the teacher he was.

I returned to NKU in 2006, having completed my MA in English, and I was hired as a part-time instructor in the English department. When I first saw Danny at the part-time instructor orientation, I was met with his always glowing smile and a hug. I felt I had come home. Danny was instrumental in that feeling, though many other people in the department (too many to possibly list here) contributed to that sense, as well–he ran the Lit and Lang department like a family. When I think of family, then, I always think of the department and especially of Danny.

During the two years I taught at NKU, I saw Danny nearly every day I was on campus. He always had time to talk to me, and he always showed a genuine interest in my life. I will forever remember that about Danny–no matter how busy his schedule, he always had time for anyone who wanted or needed to talk to him.

When I decided to complete my education, Danny once again threw his support behind me. I stopped by his office to say good-bye a couple of weeks before leaving town, and Danny quit working to talk to me and my husband for nearly an hour. I don’t recall exactly what we were discussing, but we were laughing a lot. That is the memory I will always carry with me of Danny–his laughter. He was one of the most joyful people I have ever known. I will forever remember his laugh, his smile.

Laura (Korfhagen) Detmering

-Kyllikki Brock Persson (’08)

I was planning–but not looking forward –to let you know of Danny’s sudden death.  Weird how news travels so far, so quickly.  I guess, then, that … you … have heard, as well, of Barack Obama’s  … (win).

That miraculous event had the entire department dancing through the hallways for, as it turned out, all of one day.  In fact, the last time I spoke with Danny was November 5th, when I went to him offering a congratulatory hug on the US’s victory.  When I was told of Danny’s stroke the next morning, I cried “But we were having such a good week”!

We’re all in a daze, here.  Our shock was mitigated, somewhat, on Saturday, 11/16, when NKU hosted a beautiful memorial service in Danny’s honor.  Many shared stories, like yours, of Danny’s genuine compassion and selfless willingness to serve others.  Some, like Bob Wallace, Andy Miller, and a current student shared poems they had written for Danny.  Others shared their favorite “Dannyisms,” such as this keeper: ‘I’m not sure if this is right, or true or even makes sense, but I’m just going to say it….’

He was LOVE, simply and thoroughly.  He leaves an nonrefillable void in the heart of the department.

The department will be fine, nevertheless.  Danny’s eight-year tenure as department chair was to end with the school year.  Now, our unanimous pick, Jonathan Cullick, will begin his tenure in January.  Jonathan is amazingly smart, capable, and thorough and will lead the department well.  Still, I’m so saddened that Danny didn’t get the chance to enjoy the relative leisure of a post-administrative life.

Be Well, My Friend.

P.S.  A memorial blog has been set up.  You should share there the memory of Danny you shared with me.  http://memoriesofdanny.english-nku.org/memories/

Tiffany N. Hinton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of English

You will be greatly missed. We Love you!

I rather selfishlessly never imagined a world without Danny, without his hugs and his laugh and his great stories in a booming voice. Now we have such a world, and it is much less beautiful. Yet the world does go on, and somehow we must go on without him.  For me and the rest of the family seeing the tremendous number of people at yesterday’s memorial service was truly remarkable. Danny was so darn humble none of us really knew just how much he was loved nor how much he had made an impact on the NKU community. Thank you to all those involved for a truly beautiful ceremony–Danny would have definitely loved it, and indeed he loved everything about NKU (he spoke to me about his pride and love for the school constantly).  Thank you all for keeping his wonderful spirit and memory alive.  Jeff Jones (UNC-Greensboro, History Dept.)

God b less,  Leon E. Boothe