Nike executive Larry Miller opened up about a past he had kept secret for more than 50 years. In a January 2022 interview with CNBC Miller, the former president and current chairman of Nike’s Jordan brand, discusses a man he killed in 1965 when he was a teenager and the repercussions of what happened.
Miller was convicted of shooting and killing 18-year-old Edward White when Miller was 16 years old. He pleaded guilty and years in prison. Years later he grew successful at Nike, but never revealed his true history. He finally did with a memoir called “Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom.” He also revealed he had met with White’s family, including his sister and White’s two kids.
“If nothing else comes out of this book … the most important thing for me is to be able to know that in spite of the pain and hurt I caused their family, that they’re willing to forgive me,” Miller told CNBC.
He adds he grew more comfortable with his story becoming public, saying it’s been freeing for him to not have to carry a huge secret anymore. “I’m getting comfortable with my story being out there,” Miller added. “I tried so hard to hide
over the years. It’s kind of been freeing to be able to not have to carry this around.”
Before the book was released Miller also told parts of his story to Sports Illustrated. Miller’s daughter Laila Lacy, who co-authored the book, had pushed her father to tell his story for years. Miller ultimately decided that if he told his story, people would find that formerly incarcerated people can in fact make a contribution to society and turn their lives around for the better.
