ATLANTA, Georgia (ABC4 News) – Cox Automotive presented its annual Barbara Cox Woman of the Year Award to Utah’s very own Gail Miller, owner and chairman of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies.
The award is given to women who “demonstrate business leadership and community advocacy, as well as a commitment to advancing the automotive industry.”
“Gail exemplifies this award by sharing many of the qualities and values that we admire in Mrs. Cox,” said Cox Automotive President Sandy Schwartz. “In addition to growing from one Toyota dealership to more than 60 dealerships today, Gail is a renaissance woman with her business influence spanning multiple industries including professional sports. I am honored to present this award to Gail in recognition of not only her business acumen but also her strong support of charitable giving and community service.”
Larry and Gail Miller, who married in 1965 and had five children, got their start in the automotive business when they opened a Toyota dealership in 1979. The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies now have more than 60 dealerships, the Utah Jazz, the Salt Lake City Stars, the Salt Lake Bees, Megaplex Theatres and a several other automotive, financial, and real estate companies. Today, they currently employ more than 10,000 people.
Larry H. Miller died in 2009 at the age of 64 following complications from type II diabetes.
Gail Miller presides over the Larry H. Miller Education Foundation and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, which support charitable, educational and humanitarian causes.
“Miller gives freely of her time and is actively involved in many business, civic and educational activities,” said in a statement sent to ABC4 from Cox Automotive. “She serves on the National Advisory Council at the University of Utah and the President’s Leadership Council at Brigham Young University. Miller also serves as the chair of Intermountain Healthcare’s Board of Trustees, on the Shelter the Homeless Board, and the Zions Bank Advisory Board.”
According to the release, Gail Miller has been recognized with honors including Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Weber State University, and the Salt Lake Chamber’s highest award “A Giant in Our City.” She is also the recipient of the internationally-recognized ATHENA Award.
The award is named after the late Barbara Cox, a Cox Automotive owner and the mother of chairman Jim Kennedy. For more information on the Barbara Cox Woman of the Year Award, visit https://www.coxautoinc.com/barbara-cox-woman-year-award.
By: Jenn Gardiner
Posted: Jan 26, 2019 12:38 PM MST
Updated: Jan 26, 2019 09:43 PM MST
