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When Joe Mills moved his family to Berryville in 1968, little did he realize his first coaching job after graduating from the University of Arkansas would turn into a lifelong career at Berryville High School and that Berryville would become his home in retirement.
Mills was officiating a game when Berryville’s coach, Jack Edens, struck up a conversation with him. This quick interlude led to a full-time coaching job where Mills affectionately became known then and still today as Coach Joe Mills. After he moved his family from Sulphur Springs, his two children, Marc and Melissa, were raised in Berryville, quickly becoming integrated into most every aspect of school, sports and community activities.
In a recent conversation with Coach Mills, he recalled how friendly and welcoming Berryville was to his family in 1968, as they had no family connections other than Edens.
“The Nelson Family, Charles and Jimmie, really adopted us in the early days, inviting us to their home and to various events,” Mills said. “Because we didn’t know anyone here, the library, which was located on the square, was the best place for us to take our children to meet other families, allowing them the opportunity to participate in the library programs and activities.
He recalled the day when the library was moved from the square to its current location and how exciting that was for the community.
Both of Coach Mills’ children are now grown with families of their own. Marc, a 1982 BHS graduate, lives in St. Charles, Mo., with his wife and two girls. Both of Marc’s girls recently graduated from college. Mills’ daughter Melissa, a 1980 BHS graduate, lives in Sherwood. Melissa has two girls and two boys, with three already out of college and one graduating this year. Melissa also has two grandchildren.
“Because of our long history in Berryville and the fact that a good library is an integral part of a community for families who have lived here their whole life or for families who are just moving into the area, I wanted to give this $20,000 donation in honor of my two children, six grandchildren, and my two great-grandchildren,” Mills said. “I kept seeing other families stepping forward to help the library, and I decided if others could do that, then I could do the same thing!”
Mills’ donation qualifies him for several naming opportunities. He chuckled and said, “I hope people will be motivated that if tightwad Joe Mills can do this for the library in honor of my children, then maybe I should do the same.’”
The Friends of the Berryville Library, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, kicked off a campaign 15 months ago with a goal of raising $2.5 million. The City of Berryville donated a four-acre tract located just a few blocks from the square and across the street from the City Pool Park.
According to Tyler Squires, the project’s fundraising chairman: “Our goal is to raise the needed funds by 2025 or before, and we are over halfway there. Every tax-deductible gift to the project, whether large or small, is appreciated. It will take our whole community working together to make this new library building a reality.”
For more information on the many ways to contribute to the Berryville Library Building Project, go to www.berryvillelibrary.org/building or contact Kristy Noble-Tesch at 870-654-6565 or contact the library at 870- 423-2323.
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