Gail Miller spoke at a press conference announcing the transfer of ownership of the Utah Jazz.
UTAH
Gail Miller Establishes Jazz Family Trust
Miller family’s historic announcement marks a major moment in Jazz history.
F
orever Utah. With more than 30 members
of the Miller family gathered behind her,
Gail Miller announced in January an
amazingly generous decision that transferred
the ownership of the Utah Jazz and Vivint Smart
Home Arena into a Legacy Trust that will keep
the franchise in Utah for generations. This
unprecedented action helps ensure the Jazz are
always a vital part of Utah and represent the
state around the world.
“As a family, we have always considered the
Utah Jazz a community asset, and it has been
our privilege to serve as stewards of this team
for more than 30 years,” said Miller. “There
have been many opportunities to sell and move
the franchise, but from the day Larry and I
purchased the Jazz our goal was to keep the
team in Utah. The Legacy Trust will help to
ensure this commitment is kept for generations
to come.”
With the ownership transfer to the Legacy
Trust, the Miller family’s stewardship, along
with all management functions and operations
of the Jazz—one of the most consistent and
stable teams in professional sports—will
remain intact. According to Miller, the Jazz
will continue to have the financial resources
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LHM Winning Spirit
March/April 2017
to attract top talent and further its pursuit of
becoming a championship-caliber team.
While the Legacy Trust will be managed
by current and future generations of the
Miller family, the trust will not provide any
material benefit to the family from the Jazz,
and ownership of the franchise will be held
collectively by the trust.
“We have always been committed
to doing things the right way and
working to achieve our mission of
enriching lives and giving back.”
Gail Miller
At the Jazz game the evening of the
announcement, Miller received a standing
ovation as she shared the news with the crowd.
Clutching a game ball she has kept since she and
her husband first bought the NBA franchise in
1985, Miller passed the ball to her children and
grandchildren before they shared it with local
youngsters from the Boys & Girls Clubs
of Greater Salt Lake.
The Legacy Trust is the capstone of a
broader effort to position the Larry H. Miller
Group of Companies and its holdings for long-
term vitality and success. After a nationwide
search, a 12-member board of directors
consisting of independent business executives,
company officials, and family members was
formed in 2015. Clark Whitworth, a leader
in the companies for more than 28 years, was
promoted to CEO.
“As a family and company, we have always
been committed to doing things the right
way and working to achieve our mission of
enriching lives and giving back,” said Miller.
“This trust and our new corporate structure will
continue this important legacy in perpetuity
and represents our commitment and deep love
for the state of Utah.”
The Jazz were founded as the 18th member
of the NBA in New Orleans in 1974 and
relocated to Salt Lake City in 1979. Larry
and Gail Miller purchased 50 percent of the
franchise in May of 1985 to keep the team
from leaving Utah after financial challenges
resulted in the franchise being put up for sale.
The following year, the Millers acquired the
remaining 50 percent and have solely owned
and operated the franchise ever since. ◆