George Mills

1930 - 2017

A local television broadcasting pioneer, an award winning community and political activist, and a decorated Korean War veteran, George Mills lost his long and stoic battle with kidney disease on January 20, 2017, at 86 years old. The son of Elsie and George Mills, Mr. Mills was born on Nov. 7th, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pa. Along with his brothers Bob and Ronald he grew up in the Kensington section of the city, where he became an accomplished athlete. Mr. Mills played baseball at Northeast High School before signing a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, spending one year with the team's Class D club in Dover, Delaware. In 1948 Mr. Mills enlisted in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Staff Sargent and becoming a decorated military veteran. He received an honorable discharge in 1952 after serving in the Korean War and receiving a Purple Heart, the United Nations Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Service Medal. That same year he married the former Mary Ross and moved to the Brooklyn section of South Baltimore. Eventually, the couple relocated to the Brooklyn Park community of northern Anne Arundel County, where they raised their two children, Diane and Keith, and have lived since, celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary just this past November. Upon his discharge from the Army and relocation to Baltimore, Mr. Mills began working as a television cameraman and technician at WAAM television, which later became WJZ-TV Channel 13, when Westinghouse Broadcasting purchased the station in 1957. At WAAM and WJZ Mr. Mills became a local broadcast institution, and one of the finest camera operators in the country. He was the 'cover' camera for three presidential inaugurations, Baltimore Colts football, Baltimore Orioles baseball, Baltimore Bullets basketball, horse racing at Pimlico Race Course plus local college football, lacrosse and basketball. Mr. Mills was part of WJZ's technical team that broadcast the first Colts game in 1954 and was a big part of the station's award-winning Orioles coverage from 1958 to '83, working alongside such legendary broadcasters as Ernie Harwell, Harry Carey, Chuck Thompson and Bill O'Donnell and providing network coverage of the team's World Series championship seasons of 1966 and '70. During that span Mr. Mills was also the head of the station's technicians union and worked as a studio camera operator and 'floor director' for the Buddy Dean Show, The Bob McCallister Show, People Are Talking With Oprah Winfrey and Richard Sher and the award winning and wildy popular 6 and 11 p.m local news on Channel 13 with Jerry Turner and Al Sanders. He also spent two years traveling with the New York Jets football team, providing in-game, instant replay video tape access to the Jets coaching staff. Back in Brooklyn Park, Mr. Mills became a community icon, coaching a variety of football, basketball and baseball teams through the Anne Arundel Optimists, Brooklyn Optimists and Brooklyn Park Youth Athletic Association, impacting the lives of thousands of young boys and girls in the northern Anne Arundel County area. He was also a political activist, running for offices in both the Anne Arundel County Council and Maryland House of Delegates and supporting a variety of elected officials, including former Anne Arundel County Executives Bob Pascal and James Lighthizer, U.S. Congressman Tom McMillan, House of Delegate members Ted Sophocleus, and Michael Busch and State Senators Ed DeGrange and Phil Jimeno and once hosted Anne Arundel's Most Wanted, a local cable television show in the county with Sherriff George Johnson. He was also a tireless worker in the community, supporting local schools, churches and businesses and representing both the local police and firefighters in union contract negotiations. He also received numerous awards, including the Anne Arundel County Sherriff's Award and the County Executive Award, presented in 2006 by the Anne Arundel Sports Hall of Fame, which he help create 28 years ago. Mr. Mills is survived by his wife Mary, his daughter Diane, son Keith and son-in-law Steve Bennett. Seven grandchildren: Adam and Rebecca Bennett,, Josh and Lacey Bennett, Tyler Bennett, Alexandria and Nicholas Mills and great grandchildren: Jackson, Grayson and Brooklyn Bennett. Friends may visit on Monday January 23, 2017 from 2-4 & 6-8pm at the Barranco & Sons,P.A Severna Park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. Services will be held on Tuesday at 10:00am in the Severna Park United Methodist Church 731 Benfield Rd. Severna Park, MD 21146. Interment in the Glen Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family ask that a donation be made to Special Olympics Maryland Online condolences may be made at: