Billy G.Mills, a pioneering civil rights attorney and one of the first Black men elected to the Los Angeles City Council, has died at the age of 96.He passed away on June 27 after a period of declining health, according to his family, and died peacefully at his home in Leimert Park.

Mills was elected in 1963 to represent Council District 8, the same historic election cycle that also brought Tom Bradley to the council, marking a major milestone in Black political representation in Los Angeles.He was part of an early wave of Black leaders who helped reshape city governance during a period of major social change.

During his time on the City Council, Mills played an important role in addressing the aftermath of the Watts uprising in 1965 and was selected multiple times to serve as acting mayor and president pro tem.He focused on local infrastructure improvements, including installing streetlights and paving alleys in South Los Angeles neighborhoods.His leadership was widely recognized for advancing civil rights and public service.

After leaving the council in 1974 due to term limits, Mills continued his public service career when he was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by then-Governor Ronald Reagan.He had previously worked as a civil rights lawyer and was also known for being the first Black graduate of the UCLA School of Law.Mills also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1972.Beyond his professional achievements, he was a family man, married to Rubye Mills until her death in 2018, and father to five children.His legacy includes mentorship, community advocacy, and contributions to legal and political progress in California.