Albert George Mills Sr.

1941 - 2022

Albert George Mills Sr
04/10/1941 - 10/12/2022
Albert George Mills
April 10, 1941 – October 12, 2022

When you think of the quintessential Al you conjure up his flair for fashion with his pressed Wrangler Jeans, Ray-bans and cowboy hat with a toothpick in his mouth and Coke in his hand. Throw in his red T-bird, a game of golf or a good ole' team huddle and you get "Big Al."

Albert "Al" George Mills, Sr., also known as Big Al and Pop, was born in Barbers Hill, Texas on April 10, 1941.

Al played football at Barbers Hill High School, earning All-District twice and winning the Outstanding Lineman Award as a senior. He also served as class president of his freshman, sophomore and junior classes and, never letting anyone forget, was voted "Most Handsome" as a senior in his class of 1959.

Al attended college at Sam Houston State where he served as a teacher's aide and ultimately earned a master's degree in education. While at Sam Houston, he met the love of his life and his wife of 54 years, Marion. Post-graduation they moved to Houston where Al quickly became involved in HISD and went on to serve as a counselor, a vice principal and even a school bus driver at Marshall Junior High.

Little did anyone know, Al always harbored a secret dream to own a beer joint. An opportunity came up for Al and a friend to own and run The Bavarian Gardens. Though short-lived it gave Al a taste for the restaurant and bar business. He went on to become partners in the Village Drive-In located at the corner of Times and Morningside in the Rice Village where a bar and BBQ space was created that the "regulars" nicknamed Poor Man's Country Club. He also owned and ran "The Creamery" across from West U Elementary always complaining that he couldn't scoop fast enough to make any money.

Longing for the small town feel he grew up with, Al packed the truck and moved his family 72 miles to El Campo, Texas where his entrepreneurial spirit spurred him on to open the town's first delicatessen. After a little over a year they packed it up and came back to Houston deciding that small town life was not the right fit for his big city wife. It is then that, Poor Man's Country Club found its longtime home on University and Morningside overlooking the XXX movie theatre and World Toy.

Throughout his life, his love of sports, kept him active as a baseball coach for his two sons at West U Little League and football coach for the Fun football league – the Shamrock's. Al also served as a beloved coach for the West U Softball Association including coaching the Green Machines, Spiders and Swingers to several season victories. When his daughter went to Lamar, Al founded, funded and coached the first-ever softball team for the Lamar Redskins and HISD.

Based on his good looks, distinct personality and love for center stage, a good friend suggested he get his auctioneer license. Al began to do live auctions at the Houston Auto Auction every Wednesday and upon selling Poor Man's he made a career at the Auto Auction in client management and auctioneering.

Serving the community, Al readily and often lent his personality and auctioneering experience to non-profits needing to raise money. In his generosity and love for his hometown Al also supported Barbers Hill ISD as an ambassador and school board member and was the longtime chairman and master of ceremony of the Barbers Hill Sports Hall of Honor in which he was inducted in 2004.

In planning for their retirement Al and Marion began a life and became a part of the community of Rockport, Texas where his sons now live and the legacy of Poor Man's Country Club lives on.

Al is survived by his sons Albert and Taggart of Rockport, Texas and his daughter Alice and her husband Gef Fluker of Manhattan Beach, California. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Lillie Mills and fiancé Daniel Hemmer; Cuatro, Mills, Mimi and Georgia Fluker; McCrea Mills and his niece, Stephanie Mills. He leaves behind many close friends that he considered family. Al is preceded in death by his wife, Marion Trapolino Mills, his parents George Albert and Pauline Taggart Mills and his brother Steve.

In his final days, Al reminded his kids of the Warren Buffett quote, "When you're nearing your end of life, your only measure of success should be the number of "people you want to have love you actually do love you,"" Al, you will always be surrounded and remembered by the people that love you. Though the journey is complete, it does not end.

To honor and ensure that Al's memory lives on, Barbers Hill ISD has established the Mills Family Scholarship with the intent to raise an endowment awarding significant scholarships for any K-12 Barbers Hill student wanting to pursue a degree in the energy business. In lieu of flowers we encourage donations to the endowment. For more information, please email Amber Young at amber.young@bhisd.net. A celebration of life will be held in November.