SEE VIDEO: Remembering Larry Miller’s passion, achievements and smile [Shelton Herald]

Article as it appeared in the Shelton Herald

State Sen. Kevin Kelly honored the late Larry Miller, who represented Shelton in the state legislature for more than two decades, on the floor of the state Senate as lawmakers passed a special resolution in recognition of the lawmaker.

During the Senate session on March 10, lawmakers spoke in support of House Joint Resolution 66: Expressing Sympathy on the Death of Lawrence G. Miller.

Miller, who lived in Stratford, died last May at age 78. The Republican was first elected to the legislature in 1990. His House district included far northern Stratford, almost half of Shelton, and at times a small part of Trumbull.

‘He inspired me’

“In losing Larry, Connecticut lost an incredible lawmaker. But together, with our memories and with his lasting impression, his legacy does live on,” Kelly told his colleagues.

“He inspired me as a legislator and he inspired me as a leader,” Kelly said.

“He inspired me as a friend and as a family man. Larry was the kind of person who worked hard, and he fought hard. I admired his passion, his measure, his character and his smile … No matter where you were, he always had a smile.”

Many legislative accomplishments

Kelly highlighted Miller’s accomplishments in housing, historic preservation, healthcare, and environmental policy.

“Thanks to Larry, Connecticut has an umbilical cord blood bank, which has the potential to make critical life-saving procedures more widely available to families and children,” he said. “Thanks to Larry, Connecticut has made significant advancements in environmental issues and energy policy that will help improve our state for future generations.

“Thanks to Larry, Connecticut’s aviation history has been put back on the map where it rightly belongs, and ‘First in Flight’ status and Gustave Whitehead have been solidified and celebrated,” Kelly said.

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To watch a video of Kevin Kelly’s speech on Larry Miller, click below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=52x5LVwstgQ

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“Thanks to Larry, Connecticut has taken steps to provide the most vulnerable people with quality housing, and has helped ensure every person has a proper home,” he said.

Positive impact on the community

Kelly also applauded the late lawmaker’s impact on his local community. “I didn’t know him just as a legislator,” he said. “I’ve known him virtually my entire life.”

Kelly said as a young child growing up in Stratford, he remembers Miller “being very active in Stratford. Thanks to Larry, I know my own hometown and my district is a better place to live and raise a family.”

In addressing Miller’s family, Kelly expressed further appreciation.
“I want to thank them for sharing Larry with us, with the town of Stratford, for all that he’s done,” he said.

‘May his legacy live on’

“My constituents have all known and loved Larry. And for his work, for his drive and for his commitment we have so much to be grateful and thankful for … May his legacy live on and his commitment to our entire state inspire us all,” said Kelly, whose 21st Senate District includes all of Shelton as well as most of Stratford.

Kelly, a Republican, was first elected in 2010. In addition to Shelton and Stratford, his district includes parts of Monroe and Seymour.