Louis Van Orden Mills ’45

Louis Van Orden Mills ’45 —a two-term mayor of Middletown, New York, first county executive of Orange County, New York, and founder of the Orange County Land Trust—died December 30, 2012. Elected mayor of Middletown at age 27, Louis was the youngest mayor in New York State, serving from 1951 to 1955. He was elected for two terms as Orange County’s first County Executive (1969-77) and appointed first vice chairman of the National Association of Counties. He retired from public office in 1978 and went on to establish the Orange County Land Trust in 1993. He served as its president for the next 10 years. Louis was an officer or director of various boards in Orange County, including Horton Memorial Hospital and the Hillside Cemetery. Louis’ 26-year public service career included membership on the New York State Commission for Riparian Claims on the Neversink River (1957-58) and advisory council to the Hudson River Valley Commission (1965-66) and as president of the Association of New York State County Executives (1972). In addition to public office Louis maintained a private business practice for 22 years as a life insurance underwriter. He initiated the redevelopment of several historic properties in Orange County. Louis attended Middletown public schools, graduated from the Hotchkiss School and received an A.B. in business administration from Dartmouth and an M.A. in government and education from Columbia University. Louis was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Roberta, and his brother Samuel. He is survived by sons Jack and Louis Jr.