Walter S. Mills

Walter Lewis Satterlee Mills (1908 - 1994) was an educator in the Parole community of Annapolis, Maryland. Principal of Parole Elementary for 46 years, Walter S. Mills helped guide the education of generations of Parole families. Mills is also noted for his 1939 suit against the Anne Arundel County Board of Education that resulted in equal pay for black principals and teachers. Mills was represented by Thurgood Marshall, then a lawyer with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and later a Supreme Court justice.

Mills joined the Rev. John Chambers Sr. in founding the Community Health Center at Parole. The center has been renovated and expanded over its 80 years and now provides immunizations, reproductive health services and testing for HIV and tuberculosis.

Early Life and Education

The son or William Thomas Gough Mills and Ellen M. Mills, Walter was born on August 2, 1908 in Maddox, St. Mary's County, Maryland. He was the youngest of seven children.

He received his elementary education in the public schools of St. Mary's County, Maryland; his high school and Normal School education at Bowie Normal School; his B.S. degree from Hampton Institute in 1939; and his M.A. degree in Administration and Supervision in Junior and Senior High School from New York University in 1949. He did further studies at Towson State University and Johns Hopkins University.

Career as Educator

During his lengthy career as a teacher and principal, Walter S. Mills earned the reputation as an outstanding educator and civil rights advocate in Maryland. He served for one year as teacher-principal of Fenwick School in St. Mary's County during 1929-1930. For two years following, 1930-1932, he served as principal of Bel Alton Elementary School in Charles County, Maryland. These years were followed by his forty-six years spent as principal of Parole Elementary School, which began in 1932 and ended with his retirement in 1978.

Civic Activity

Active in educations, civic, religious and social endeavors, he is remembered for the untiring services offered to humanity. He displayed an innate zest for high principles, an encompassing love for his fellowman, leadership traits, ability to get along with others and the ability to get things done to help others. he possessed and executed great leadership ability and could follow as well as lead during all causes for the good of humanity.

He endured many hardships but the hardships during his courageous activities to help humanity did not deter or dim his courage nor cause it to fail for he was a man of strong will, great determination, wit, courage, straight forwardness, fortitude and endurance. These strong attributes helped him to accomplish his aims, goals and great aspirations. He had the ability to think independently and after collecting his thoughts, he was very verbal and outspoken when he felt his idea or plan was worth pursuing.

Religion

He was confirmed in Christ Episcopal Church, St. Mary's County, in 1914, and maintained his church affiliation there until 1932, at which time he moved to Annapolis and transferred his membership to St. Phillips Episcopal Church.

He was a staunch member of St. Phillips, a regular attendant, remained loyal to his obligations, served well and remained a faithful servant of God. He served as president of the Men's Club, as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, member of the Board of Directors and as a member of the Committee on Missions of the Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Maryland.He always found the time and energy to be of assistance to St. Phillips in situations that became available or where he saw the need for action or activity.

He was involved in a wide spectrum of activities that encompassed many categories of leadership. While principal of Parole Elementary School, he took a gigantic step in working toward justice in employment practices in the educational profession where there was discrimination in the salary schedule and pay for Black and White teachers and principals. To correct such discrimination and cause equality, he was plaintiff during 1937-1939, in a lawsuit that was filed on his behalf in the United States District Court to require equalization of salaries of Blacks with that of Whites. This court case was a victory for him and marked a milestone in breaking the pay scale difference in Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland.

Achievements

His leadership continued after this great milestone and included other categories, memberships, awards, and recognitions, some of which are as follows:

• Sponsored the idea and served as leader and chairman of the committee that built the Parole Health Center in 1941.
• Prior to the formation and erection of the Parole Health Center, he worked with the Parent-Teacher Association and the County Health Department in establishing a child health clinic in Cecil Memorial Church, which was later moved to the parsonage of Mt. Olive Church.
• Met with physicians and made them aware of the development of the Parole Health Center which later caused the Center to receive communications from many stating that they had succeeded in putting into practice some of our theories in their own communities and countries.
• Served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Parole Health Center for thirty-one years (1941-1972).