One man’s memorable philosophy has become a reality with a gift bearing lasting effects.
Schools have a way of inspiring passion. Their ideals, their ability to
change the way people view the world, their efforts to shape a better
future rouse emotion and pride and foster an often lifelong devotion.
Some come to this devotion in a casual way, perhaps through an affinity
for a sports program. Others were students who savor memories of
exhilarating epiphanies and adventures with friends. Still others hold
a school in high regard for the most fundamental of reasons: They
believe in its mission, its education and all that it stands for.
Mr. Ben Mills held Canterbury School in high regard for these very
reasons. He watched the school grow over the years, came to know the
families growing with it and recognized its tremendous effect on
students’ learning today and their lives tomorrow.
Mr. Mills supported Canterbury School in many ways, especially with his
time. Recently, he demonstrated his support for Canterbury with a gift
that will have a lasting effect on the school’s program: a bequest to
the school’s endowment in excess of $1.1 million.
This gift will provide earnings to fully fund Canterbury School’s math
department chair, fulfilling Mr. Mills’ intent to support the school’s
continuing quest for challenging and inspiring teaching. This is
Canterbury’s first fully funded chair, and the bequest represents the
largest such gift in the school’s history. It is a testimony to the
ideals of excellence from a man who lived out such ideals and supported
them with his generosity.
A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Mills worked hard for the opportunity to
attend college and was educated at Oklahoma State University, George
Washington University and Southeastern University Law School. He held
an honorary doctor of law degree and was a member of Kappa Sigma
fraternity.
In 1942, Mr. Mills joined the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned a
second lieutenant while at Harvard Business School. He attained the
rank of major and was awarded a Bronze Star in 1945.
After his discharge in 1946, Mr. Mills began his career at Ford Motor
Co. as supervisor of programming, product cost analysis and facilities
planning. He quickly rose through the ranks to be appointed vice
president of Ford Motor Co. in charge of the Lincoln Mercury Division
in 1955. In 1964, he was appointed vice president-supply worldwide for
Ford, a position he held until his retirement in 1971.
Despite the demands of his career, Mr. Mills found time to participate
in countless organizations, especially those associated with education.
He was on the board of trustees at Alma College in Michigan; the board
of governors and the development foundation at Oklahoma State
University; and the board of directors at Kingswood School Cranbrook in
Michigan. He was a member of the president’s advisory cabinet at
Southeastern University Law School in Washington, D.C.; the Oakland
University president’s club in Michigan; and the board of trustees and
Brunswick College Foundation in Georgia. His many other affiliations
included various symphonies and arts organizations, Junior Achievement,
the Glynn County Boys Club and Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Mills’ dedication to education was paralleled only by his personal
drive to achieve. His numerous awards and honors include a
Distinguished Service Award from Michigan United Fund, an Annual
Achievement Award from Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan, a
Professional Manager Citation from the Society for the Advancement of
Management in Detroit and an Automotive Industry Author Award.
This kind of commitment to community, to personal values and to success
is what Canterbury School teaches each and every day. Mr. Mills spoke
to Canterbury’s Class of 1996 about his guiding principles.
“We can only influence the future, and we should, therefore,
train ourselves to think prospectively without exception,” Mr. Mills
told the graduates at commencement. “We should spend our time with
things we can change, not waste it on things that are written on the
pages of time.”
A positive approach is vital, Mr. Mills said. “Nothing is produced, no
progress is made, by being against or criticizing something. Progress,
including personal success, results from being for something and doing
something about it.”
Mr. Mills’ gift to Canterbury School represents his hope to influence
the future and his commitment to provide the means for constant
progress. His generosity offers us the opportunity to promote change,
the ability to do something to prepare students for success at college
and beyond. After his passing in July 2003, Mr. Mills’ wishes now
become realities for Canterbury School and its students.
In addition to his many talents and activities, Mr. Mills was a private
pilot who flew his own aircraft. How fitting that he should give so
many young people wings.
Thank you, Mr. Mills.
“Honesty always has been and continues to be more powerful, more
respected and more likely to assure one’s success in one’s personal and
business life than all the shrewdness, all the deception, all the
exploiting of technicalities and all the self-serving and convenient
interpretations of the rules. … Honesty is one of the most powerful
attributes you can have among your personal characteristics.”
