2001 Service Award Recipient
Mr. John Mills

Mr. John C. Mills, a former missionary with the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States has been selected as this year's recipient of the Ricks Institute Alumni Association, U.S.A., Inc.'s award for his contributions to Ricks Institute.

Along with his wife, Jenny and daughter Malinda, Mr. Mills arrived at Ricks Institute from 1966. After two years of service, the Mills family came to the United States for a brief vacation and returned to Ricks with twins, Andy and Pete. Shortly after their return to Liberia, Mrs. Mills passed away after a brief illness. His services at Ricks terminated in 1971.

During his tenure at Ricks, Mr. Mills was the Biology, General Science and Chemistry instuctor. Upon his return to the United States, he served as a school principal for twenty-one years before retiring. His academic services as well as teaching Sunday School and BTU (Baptist Training Union) provided lessons that shaped the lives of many alumni now living in Liberia, other parts of Africa and throughout the world. Mr. Mills becomes the second former missionary at Ricks to receive this honor. The first was Mr. T. Eugene Oody, principal for several years.

Mr. Mills attended the 1991 Houston Convention and the Dallas Convention in 2000. Our selection of Mr. John C. Mills as our 2001 award recipient is thoughtful and well deserved because of his total commitment to Ricks Institute and the people of Liberia. We congratulate Mr. Mills on receiving this award and thank him for sharing a valuable part of his life and the life of his young family with the students of Ricks Institue and the people of Liberia.