Chambana Sun

Former Illinois student-athlete Douglas C. Mills has died at the age of 84. Mills, a 1962 graduate of the University of Illinois, was a multi-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball during his college years. He excelled particularly in baseball, achieving two-time All-Big Ten selection and throwing a no-hitter against Wisconsin in 1961. His impressive sports career led to him being named the 1962 Illinois Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year.

After his time as an athlete, Mills pursued a long career in banking with Busey Bank in Champaign. He served as president and CEO until August 2007 and continued as chairman of the board until 2009 before retiring in 2010. Under his leadership, Busey Bank grew from a $40 million bank to a $4 billion publicly traded company operating across three states.

Mills remained an active supporter of Fighting Illini Athletics after his athletic career ended. He endowed the football head coaching position at Illinois, which has been known as the Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach since 1998.

His first wife, Linda Mills, who also graduated from the University of Illinois, passed away from breast cancer in 2006. Together with their family, they contributed significantly to establishing the Mills Breast Cancer Institute at Carle in Champaign.

Douglas C. Mills is survived by his wife Cynthia (Cisty) Mills; sister Ginger Baxter; sons David and Rob; former daughter-in-law Meredith Mills; and granddaughters Madison and Ashley Mills. A funeral service will be held on May 30 at Memorial Stadium's Colonnades Club.