DeWitt Clinton Elementary School
Special Edition: Tribute to Mr. Jim Mills Class of 1950
Principal's Message
Clinton School opened its doors in 1925. Thousands have graduated and moved on to successful careers around the world. Some come back and visit, some comment on Facebook posts, some send old class pictures or yearbooks. One alum has done far more than any other throughout the past 20+ years.
Mr. Jim Mills, Class of 1950, has been a friend to Clinton over the past several decades. He supported our teachers, students, and families through a multitude of programs and activities. As a new teacher to Clinton in August 1999, I fondly remember Mr. Mills welcoming teachers back to school. He spoke about his time at Clinton and how he made life long friendships. He spoke about starting kindergarten during World War II and about all the teachers who taught him to read, write, and complete math problems. He said Clinton gave him so much that he would help with whatever was needed. He wanted to repay his debt by helping current Clinton students.
Over the years, Mr. Mills, gave more than a million dollars to our students. He started the One Year Older, One Year Smarter program where students earned gifts if they grew a year and the student with the most growth earned a $10,000 grant to be used for college. He financed trips for our 8th graders to Washington, D.C. He loved Romeo and Juliet and every year asked for several brave students to perform the balcony scene. He then rewarded them with a trip to dinner and the Lyric Opera. This year the students were fortunate to see one of Mr. Mills' favorite musicals, West Side Story. It was a memorable experience for them and one they will never forget. He also helped many students financially for college and medical school. Nothing came for free as he always expected something in return whether it be an essay to go to DC, repayment of a loan for college tuition, or for the recipient to just say thank you to the teachers who supported them throughout the years.
Mr. Mills did not just share his money with the Clinton School community, but more importantly and more meaningful was the time he dedicated to the students of Clinton. He spoke to students multiple times a year, served as Principal for a Day, challenged our students in their thinking, and shared words of inspiration at graduation. He met regularly with our students and related his own experiences of growing up in an apartment on Mozart. He spoke of sharing a room with his brother and living with his grandmother. Many of our students related to these stories as they are new immigrants or first generation Americans living in the same situations. There was always a student who lived in the same apartment on Mozart and Mr. Mills would ask questions about the building which apparently hadn't change much.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of engaging in countless conversations with Mr. Mills. Some of my favorite evenings were the reunions he held in September with members of his kindergarten class. It was a joy to hear about the kindergarten classroom with the fireplace no one seemed to understand. He would speak about the benches in the kindergarten room and what they remembered happened to naughty students! It was a pleasure to walk through the building hearing about the memories of the principal office, the plays and shows which took place in the auditorium with the portraits of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington staring down on them, and the rings and ladders in the gym! As Mr. Mills and his classmates toured the school, the history of the building was brought to life. More importantly it brought to mind the important work hundreds of teachers have done in the past and the vital work we are currently doing.
On the morning of July 1, 2019, I received the sad news Mr. Mills had passed away. He had spoke at our graduation on June 19th and planned to come to Clinton in September to welcome back our teachers and students. Upon receiving the news and sharing it with members of our staff, everyone responded in the same way. Mr. Mills was truly a generous man who really cared about our school, our students, and our community. He never wanted accolades, presentations, or large gestures of thanks. He was modest, but one thing remained true, Mr. Jim Mills helped so many. He will continue to be an inspiration of what can happen to a kid living in an apartment on Mozart, who had goals, a strong work ethic, and dreams of a successful future.
We will open the new school year missing one vital part of our school community, but we will never forget his generosity, kindness, and sense of humor. His spirit will continue through his good deeds and we as a school community will continually work to keep his spirit alive and share his story with future Clinton students.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mills family during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Maureen Delgado
Principal
DeWitt Clinton Elementary School
Website: Clinton.cps.edu
Location: 6110 North Fairfield Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: (773)534-2025
Facebook: facebook.com/cps/clinton