Thursday March 28th, 2024 5:27PM

Hugh Mills, first president of Gainesville Junior College, dies

By AccessWDUN staff

Hugh Mills, Jr., the founding president of Gainesville Junior College (now a part of the University of North Georgia), died Thursday night.  Word of his death came Friday from UNG President Bonita Jacobs.

"I write with sad news that Dr. Hugh M. Mills, Jr., the founding president of Gainesville Junior College, passed away last night," Jacobs said in an email. "Dr. Mills was an inspiring educational leader who dedicated his career to serving the students of this region."

Mills served as president of Gainesville Junior College from 1965 until his retirement in 1983. After retiring, he served briefly as interim president of Brenau University in 1985.

The physical education complex on UNG's Gainesville Campus is named in Mills' honor. A native of Albany, Georgia, he graduated from North Georgia College (now the University of North Georgia) in 1943. He received the UNG Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003 and was also inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this year for his successful basketball career in college and as a coach at the high school level in both basketball and track.

The family, according to Jacobs, is planning a private memorial ceremony, but will receive friends at a reception hosted by UNG on its Gainesville campus Sunday from 4:00-5:30 in the Robinson Ballroom of the Student Center.

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