Jack Mills (Nebraska politician)

Mills was born in Holdrege, Nebraska, in 1937, and grew up in Colorado and Nebraska, graduating from Superior High School. He settled in Big Springs, grew dryland wheat, sold grain and fertilizer, and worked for Dorn Elevator as a manager. Mills served on the Big Springs Board of Education from 1971 to 1974. ==Nebraska Legislature==

In 1974, State Senator Ramey Whitney declined to seek re-election, and Mills ran to succeed him in the 44th district, which included Arthur, Chase, Deuel, Dundy, Garden, Hitchcock, Keith, and Perkins counties in western Nebraska. Mills placed first in the primary, winning 40 percent of the vote to Hughes's 34 percent and Fraser's 26 percent. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Hughes was a Republican, and endorsed by Whitney as his successor, and Mills was a Democrat. Mills defeated Hughes by a wide margin, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Hughes's 40 percent. ==Post-legislative career==

In August 1978, Mills was hired by the Nebraska Association of County Officials as its executive director, succeeding former State Senator Gerald Stromer. He resigned from the legislature on September 1, 1978. He served as executive director of the association until he retired on June 30, 2000. Mills also served on the board of directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, including as chief executive officer and as chairman of the board, ultimately retiring in 2012. ==Death and legacy==

Mills died on February 14, 2019. ==References==