Like many poor Jewish young men at the time, Davey Miller found an outlet and career in boxing. As one of the country’s leading referees, Miller presided over more than a dozen world title fights. As a trainer, he took young fighters under his wing, including Barney Ross and Abraham Lincoln Marovitz. He is best remembered by Chicago Jews as a Judah Maccabee figure who protected them against threats and abuse. His grandson Stanley Friedman said, “[He] fought for freedom to walk a street or play in the park. I imagine there are people today who would say [his way] was not the way to do it. [But] speeches didn’t persuade those who attacked Jews. Their language was force and they had to be spoken to in ways they understood.” Photo courtesy Joe Kraus