Former governor chronicles family rise from bookmaking to politics

Former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller signed a contract to publish memoirs chronicling the history of his family in the state, starting with his father who was a Chicago bookmaker who moved to Nevada to work in legal gambling.

“I wrote this book because my family and I wanted to chronicle the unusual nature of the changes that have occurred in our state,” Miller said in a statement announcing the book deal. “My father was an early gaming pioneer who learned his trade like all his peers in non-legal jurisdictions, and I went on to become a governor.  That’s a pretty interesting transition, and one that would likely only happen in Nevada.”

Miller, a Democrat,  was the longest serving governor in the history of Nevada, serving two terms from 1991-99 in addition to a stint as acting governor from 1989-91. Miller's son, Ross Miller, is now secretary of state and considered likely to run for higher office after his term ends in 2014.

The book, "Son of a Gambling Man" will be published by New York-based Thomas Dunne Books.