Billy Gene Mills, the first Black graduate of the UCLA School of Law, died June 27. He was 96.
Mills earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1951 and graduated from the School of Law in 1954. In 1974, he was appointed by Gov. Ronald Reagan as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court and was one of the first African Americans to be elected to the LA City Council.
Above all, Billy Gene Mills was a great father and prioritized his family, said William Karl Mills, his son.
“He was literally good at everything that he did,” William Karl Mills said.
UCLA awarded Mills the Public Service Award in 2003, a distinction given to alumni who honor the university through impactful contributions to the community.
Billy Gene Mills made LA City Council staff feel like family, said Flossie Burnley, who was his executive secretary while he served on the city council. The employees often held social events and looked forward to going to work because of the positive environment he created, she added.
“He was so low-key, so down to earth, so kind and he treated everybody equally,” Burnley said. “All the staff members, from the entry-level staff to his executive secretary, he treated us all the same.”
Mills advocated for greater accountability, calling for an investigation into LAPD during the 1965 Watts uprising, according to archives from the LA Times. Residents had rioted in South LA for six days in response to the arrest of a young African American for drunk driving. Thirty-four people died during the protests.
“He cared about the way people were treated,” Burnley said. “He was bold.”
People always felt Billy Gene Mills’ warmth and sincerity, said Melanie Burnley, his family friend and Flossie Burnley’s daughter. Flossie Burnley said she remembers Billy Gene Mills for his sense of humor and in-depth storytelling.
“He meant so much to us,” Melanie Burnley said. “He was such a pinnacle of success for me, and it gave me something to look forward to, aspiring to be greater than what I could be.”
William Karl Mills said his father was honest and transparent, and that the two found the most fulfillment in spending time together. They remained connected to UCLA, often attending UCLA sports games and track meets together, William Karl Mills added.
“He never gave up,” William Karl Mills said. “He made everything feel and look so easy.”
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