Surnames: MILLS GIERL

----Source: MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) 09/16/1970; P.14

Mills, Calvin B. (b. 1906 - d. 1987)

ADMINISTRATORS OF CLARK COUNTY HOSPITAL TO RETIRE

Owen, Clark County, Wis. - Calvin Mills, administrator of the Clark County Hospital at Owen for the past 25 years, announced this week that he, and Mrs. Mills, who had served with him as an assistant administrator, will retire effective on Dec. 31 of this year. Their son, Arlyn, assistant superintendent of the hospital since 1966, will succeed his father as superintendent Jan. 1, 1971.

In announcing their retirement, Mills said, "this is a definite and final decision which was made some time ago, and the trustees had been aware of this decision for some time."

He said he and Mrs. Mills feel that "it's time to turn this over to a younger person. We have been told that we could stay longer, and have been encouraged to do so," but added, "it is our desire to retire on Dec. 31."

Mills is the oldest county hospital administrator in the state in years of service, and only the third administrator at the Clark County Hospital during its 46 years of existence. The first administrator was M. H. Duncan, and he was succeeded by M. G. Duncan.

The Mills have constructed a new home in Neillsville and plan to move there Oct. 15, after which he will commute to Owen until the end of the year. Their home is at 216 Ayers St., which Mills said, is about one block from where they lived in Neillsville 25 years ago. He and Mrs. Mills are natives of the Neillsville area and the Mills family has "had their roots in the Neillsville area for nearly 100 years."

Mills said, "we feel that we have had a very successful and pleasant reign at this hospital and can leave with a certain amount of pride and satisfaction and many pleasant memories will remain."

During the past 25 years the staff at the hospital has grown from 25 to 140 employees. There have been numerous projects of improvement and expansion during the administration of Mr. And Mrs. Mills. The Clark County Hospital is known as one of the outstanding in the state, and is one of 14 that was not cut off Medicaid on July 1.

Both Mills and his wife commented that the hospital has one of the "finest staffs of employees, if not the finest group of employees in any hospital in the state."

Mills said they appreciate the cooperation they have received from the county boards and trustees throughout the years.

He added that the responsibilities of the hospital are increasing each year, and he questioned whether he would have stayed this long if his son, Arlyn Mills, would not have joined the staff and added that "certainly some of the present problems could not have been initiated had it no been for him."

Calvin Mills, a native of the Neillsville area, graduated from the Neillsville High School in 1925, and while he in school was active in 4-H, livestock judging, oratory and debate. He was president of his sernior class.

After graduation from high school he managed his father's farm and was elected to his first public office in April 1928, when he became clerk of the town of Weston.

From 1930 to 1932 he was secretary-manager of the Neillsville Livestock Shipping Association. Then in November 1932, Mills was elected Clerk of Clark County at the age of 26, the youngest county clerk in the state of Wisconsin. He held that position continuously from January 1933 until June 1945, at which time he resigned to become superintendent of the Clark County Hospital.

The past 25 years has seen Mills active in many organizations and committees. He was president, vice president and secretary of the Wis. Association of County Hospitals. He served as chairman of the Legislative committee of the association for many years.

He was president of the Kiwanis Clubs of both Neillsville and Owen, was a Red Cross official for many years; was secretary-treasurer of the Owen Community Fire Association from 1947 to the present time; and was secretary and director of the Meadowview Country Club for four years.

Also, Mills was a director and officer of the Clark County Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and was president and director of the Clark County Holstein Breeders Association.

He was a member of the joint committee on standards for county homes, infirmaries, general hospitals, public medical institutions and county mental hospitals; and was chairman of this committee when PW1 and PW2 standards were last revised.

He was also a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community mental Health Resources.

Presently Mills is a member of the Council on Nursing Homes.

John Balcer, Thorp, and W. H. Allen, Neillsville, and Edwin Krause, Curtiss, the board of trustees, expressed their regret at losing their veteran superintendent.

In addition to their son, Arlyn, who is assisting administrator at the psychiatric hospital and skilled nursing care facility at the Clark County Hospital, the Mills have another son, Donald, who is operations supervisor for the national health Enterprises; and a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Arlene) Gierl.

Obituary of Calvin B. Mills