Former chamber president called perfect fit for the job
When Edward L. "Bud" Mills took over as president of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce in 1971, he seemed like the perfect choice.
As a prominent merchant in downtown Arlington Heights, he reflected the majority of the membership, officials said, and he represented their interests well, both with village leaders and with the surrounding business community.
At the time, Mr. Mills owned Webber Paint Co. at 214 S. Dunton Ave. in Arlington Heights. He ran the business for nearly 40 years.
"It was a very tight knit business community at the time," said Mike Silverman of Arlington Heights, a former chamber president, who served as an officer with Mr. Mills. "Bud was a very good businessman and he was well liked in the community."
Mr. Mills' portrait still hangs in the boardroom of the chamber offices, among a row of former presidents, serving as his legacy of service and business leadership.
Family members now are cherishing such mementos. Mr. Mills passed away Monday at the age of 89. He was a near lifelong Arlington Heights resident, having moved to the village when he was a sophomore in high school at the age of 15.
Mr. Mills grew up in an artistic home. His mother, Martha, was adept at wood carving, creating doll heads out of her carvings and even carving apples into doll faces. She also had a kiln in their home and made porcelain dolls, family members said.
In her later years, Mrs. Mills would donate her extensive doll collection to the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, where it remains on permanent display.
Mr. Mills did not pursue art originally in college, but he was a decorated student athlete. Having played football and basketball and run track at Arlington High School, he served as captain of the track and cross country team at Michigan State University, which earned the school's first NCAA national title in 1939.
While in college, Mr. Mills also participated in the ROTC program and was called into active duty in 1942. During World War II, he served in the Africa-Middle East Theatre with the Air Transport Command.
Upon his return, Mr. Mills attended Harrington College of Design for a year before returning to Arlington Heights and working with John Kehe, who owned Webber Paint at the time. Within 10 years, Mr. Mills bought the company.
With his natural artistic bent and design background, Mr. Mills brought a keen eye for color to the business.
"He would always do these custom mixes for people," said his daughter, Robyn Eastman of McHenry. "Everyone would come to him for paint and wallpaper."
Mr. Mills also actively participated in his church, the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, as well as with Boy Scout Troop 57.
Besides his daughter, Mr. Mills is survived by his children, Martha Mills (Patrick Papas), a Cook County circuit court judge in Chicago; Michael (Gail) Mills, the former superintendent of Crystal Lake High School District 155; Charles (Ladda) Mills of Sacramento, Calif.; James Mills of Wauconda and Betty Nahas of Chicago.
Visitation will take place today from 3 to 9 p.m. at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights. The funeral is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 N. Dunton Ave.