LESLIE A. MILLER was born in Junction City, Kansas, and completed an eighth-grade education. After moving to Wyoming, he found success in the field of oil exploration and production and became president of Aero Oil Company. He served two terms in the state legislature and was elected to the state senate but resigned his seat to undertake an unsuccessful campaign for governor. However, he won election to the governorship upon the death of Frank Emerson, and was elected to a second full term in 1934. During Miller’s service as governor, Wyoming initiated a sales tax and rejected legalized gambling. Miller took a controversial stand—the only Wyoming politician to do so—favoring expansion of Grand Teton National Park. After being defeated for reelection in 1938, he served as a Democratic National Committeeman. He was also Regional Director of the War Production Board during World War II, and was a member of the board of the Jackson Hole Preserve, Inc.