Junior Michael Miller, 22, died Jan. 27 after a lifelong battle with muscular dystrophy.

Miller was born Oct. 6, 1988, in Jefferson City. He enrolled at MU after graduating from Jefferson City High School. While at MU, he was heavily involved with the Department of Theatre.

“He was mostly involved with playwriting, but he also did technology,” Director of Undergraduate Studies David Crespy said. “He just won a certificate of recognition through the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for his sound design for “How I Learned to Drive.”

Crespy said he knew Miller well during his time as a student and was always impressed with his talent. He said Miller did know about the sound design award before he died, and that Miller, as a writer, could be most accurately described as a playwright.

“And was he ever a playwright,” Crespy said. “He was incredibly prolific. And this is a kid who struggled with very frail use of his arms, his hands.”

Crespy said he would describe Miller as a young Tennessee Williams.

“He was the winner of the 2010 Undergraduate Creative Writing Award, the Kerr award, for his one act play, ‘Trouble the Mash’,” Crespy said. “He was a finalist for the same play in the KCACTF One Act Play Festival in 2010.”

Crespy said “Trouble the Mash” is a one-act play that is really fascinating. It follows two brothers, wrestling over the process of making white lighting — liquor.

“There was also something haunting about it as well,” Crespy said. “It was two brothers who were really at odds with each other.”

Crespy said in another one of Miller plays, it’s about an ivy that seems to grow into the midst of a house. The play is titled, “Spirit’s Traveling Salvation Show.”

“We’re going to do that (play) as part of the 2011 Mizzou New Play Series,” Crespy said. “On Sunday, April 10th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Corner Playhouse. It is a strange, gothic tale of ministers and healers and followers of those people.”

Miller is survived by his mother Lori Ann Miller and aunt Lindsey Testerman, who could not be reached for comment.

Memorials for Michael may be made to the MU Department of Theatre and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, of which he was actively involved in.