Hall of Honor
The competitive spirit of Paul Mills was forged at an early age. As a child growing up outside Philadelphia, the youngster regularly found himself fighting just to get through each day. His aggressiveness served him well when he found sports at the age of 5. “It allowed me to have controlled anger and to be aggressive,” Mills says. “If they don’t keep score, I don’t want to play. I was never a recreational player. I was driven and I was competitive.”
The aggressive personality that some may label as obnoxiousness, Mills admits, fueled a drive that would later lead to continued success in athletics as an athlete and coach and in academia as an administrator and college President.
His strong personality was balanced by a family life that was centered on the Lord. Daily devotions led by his parents, helped Mills and his five brothers develop and grow in their faith. “Home was my oasis,” says Mills.
When he was 9 years old, the family moved to Houghton where his older brother Jim had started attending as a student. The family settled into the former President’s home – site of the current Paine Center greenhouse – and Pop Mills found work in the college’s maintenance department.
While he was a still a high school student, Mills started competing in the college’s athletics program, and it didn’t take long for his name to start appearing in the Star newspaper for his exploits, especially on the basketball court.
Once he enrolled as a Houghton student, his dominance on the court continued. He also found time to compete in baseball, football, tennis and swimming for the Gold team. As a senior he set a school record with 50 points in one game.
“Purple and Gold was very competitive, but the times were different,” says Mills. “People had a great desire to win. We had just won the war. A lot of the students were military veterans; they were men. We had wonderful athletes here. They could have done well in intercollegiate sports.”
Mills had that opportunity to pursue sports at a higher level when Colgate University came calling. But the rising senior felt his academic ability wasn’t up to par. He decided to stay at Houghton in order to get the support he needed.
He found that support through several folks on campus, including his advisor Dr. Whitney Shea, who was very encouraging as Mills worked toward his degree in sociology, and Mrs. Luckey, who was always supportive. Doug Burke and Dr. George Wells were also influential during his time as a Houghton student.
As graduation approached, Mills was ready to work at a school for wayward boys, but someone recommended him to serve as Athletic Director at Marion College. He initially balked at the idea since he didn’t have a physical education background. But he trusted the Lord and moved to Indiana. He stayed for 22 years, serving as alumni director, director of career education and counseling, professor, basketball and soccer coach and department chair.
He and his wife, Bonnie, also started their family with sons Mark and Stephen and daughter Heather. The lessons he learned from his parents were passed on, as Christ was the foundation of his family. Daily devotions were vital as he raised his children. “That was my responsibility as a father,” he says. Faith was also foundational in his role as a coach. “Many of my players were not from a Christian environment. I was concerned for them. I had a heart for my players. I had more influence as a coach at Marion College than I ever did as a college president.”
During his time at Marion, Mills also completed his master’s and doctorate degrees. Those who recall Mills’ time at Marion point to his passion, mentorship, competitiveness, and his excellence as a role model for young men as key attributes. His friend John Earnest describes Mills as “salt of the earth”. “He is that tiny pinch of salt that makes the meat taste better – that person who makes the world a much better place to live.”
Mills became a regular speaker at churches and youth events across the country and soon built a reputation within the Wesleyan academic community.
Bonnie suggested he apply to the open president’s position at Bartlesville Wesleyan in 1983, and after two strong recommendations, an interview process and a home meeting with the search committee chair, Mills was selected to lead the Oklahoma college in 1983. He served in that role for 19 years. He takes pride in the fact that he strengthened the spiritual ethos of the campus by hiring people who were committed to the Lord first, students second and subject matter third.
His time as president also renewed his passion for competitive sports. He competed in 3-on-3 Senior Olympic Basketball in the 55-plus age group. Over a seven-year stretch, his team was 55-9. In 1998 they represented the state of Oklahoma in the National Senior Olympics in Orlando. His colleague from Bartlesville and teammate on those teams, Don Maness, had this to say: “I always told Paul that if I had to walk down a dark alley in any city, I would want him to walk with me. He is a giant spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Dr. Paul Mills is a giant of a man.”
When he left Bartlesville, he served at Southern Wesleyan University for a year, and then returned to Houghton to work in advancement for five years. After Bonnie passed away in 2008, Mills moved to Denton, Maryland where he served as executive director of the Wesleyan Center at Denton. In 2010, Mills found love again, marrying Houghton President Shirley Mullen. He left Denton in 2012 and moved back home to Houghton.
Today, Mills is an active member in the Houghton community, assisting the president with events at their home, helping with research and fundraising projects when he can, and continuing to support Highlander athletics. He is also active on several boards in Allegany County and has been a proud Rotarian for more than 50 years.
As Mills receives this honor today, he points to three distinct things that have guided him on his journey and shaped him into the man he has become.
“My faith, my family and Houghton College have made all the difference in my life,” he says.
