Billy G. Mills, a significant figure in Los Angeles civil rights and politics and one of the first Black men elected to the City Council, has died at the age of 96.
Mills passed away on June 27 at his home in Leimert Park following a period of declining health, according to his son, James Edward Mills. A civil rights attorney before his entry into politics, Mills was elected to represent District 8 on the Los Angeles City Council in 1963, the same year as Tom Bradley, marking a historic moment for Black representation in the city's governance.
His son, a journalist, remembered Mills as a man of integrity who emphasized honesty, commitment, and perseverance. He shared a photograph of his father with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his involvement in shaping significant societal events. James Edward Mills also recounted learning later in life that his father had officiated the wedding of Muhammad Ali.
During his tenure on the Council, Mills played a role in the city's response to the Watts Rebellion of 1965. He was recognized for his leadership, serving multiple times as acting mayor and president pro tem. His efforts in South Los Angeles included the installation of streetlights and the paving of alleys. Mills also pursued a congressional seat in 1972 and, after reaching term limits on the Council in 1974, was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Ronald Reagan.
A graduate of UCLA Law School, where he was the first Black student to graduate, Mills was preceded in death by his wife, Rubye, in 2018. He is survived by his five children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The Dr. Rubye and Judge Billy G. Mills Scholarship at UCLA continues to support students pursuing education or law.
