Judge McMillian departed this life on January 18 2006 at Barnes-Jewish Hosptial at 6:45 a.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Minnie Foster, his son Theodore McMillian Jr., and his three brothers Augustus, Charles, and Henry.
Attorney and social pioneer. A native of St. Louis, McMillian graduated from Vashon High School after 3 years in 1936, and where he was first in his class, class president and a member of the National Honor Society. He received his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from Missouri's Lincoln University and his law degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. McMillian was one of the first African Americans to earn admission to the university's law school and worked his way through law school as a janitor at night. Despite his rigorous schedule, McMillian was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, graduated first in his class, and was the first African-American named to Alpha Sigma Nu, a Jesuit National Honor Society. McMillian broke racial barriers throughout his law career. After graduating first in his class at "SLU" in 1949, McMillian became the first African-American assistant prosecutor in the city of St. Louis. Three years later, Missouri Governor Phil M. Donnelly appointed him the first African-American judge for the city of St. Louis. In 1972, McMillian was elected to the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District by Governor Warren E. Hearnes and became the first member of his race to serve on that court. In 1978, he became the first and only African-American to reach the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Nominated by President Jimmy Carter, he was unanimously confirmed in 20 minutes. During his tenure, McMillian wrote landmark decisions on desegregation, free speech, civil rights, employment discrimination and affirmative action. Dedicated to his hometown, McMillian committed himself to improving the St. Louis area. He was a past president and founder of the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, one of the founders of the anti-poverty agency Human Development Corp., and founder of what is now the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. He was president of the St. Louis Urban League for a decade and served on the board of St. Louis' Catholic Charities. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, McMillian donated $250,000 to the Saint Louis University School of Law to assist students with financial aid. The Theodore McMillian Scholarship Fund requires recipients to serve as interns for community organizations. Concluding his masterpiece life, Judge McMillian succumbed to the effect of age, diabetes mellitus and kidney failure.∼Judge Theodore McMillian died 1/18/06. Service 1/23/06 at St.Alphonus Rock Catholic Church.Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Attorney and social pioneer. A native of St. Louis, McMillian graduated from Vashon High School after 3 years in 1936, and where he was first in his class, class president and a member of the National Honor Society. He received his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from Missouri's Lincoln University and his law degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. McMillian was one of the first African Americans to earn admission to the university's law school and worked his way through law school as a janitor at night. Despite his rigorous schedule, McMillian was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, graduated first in his class, and was the first African-American named to Alpha Sigma Nu, a Jesuit National Honor Society. McMillian broke racial barriers throughout his law career. After graduating first in his class at "SLU" in 1949, McMillian became the first African-American assistant prosecutor in the city of St. Louis. Three years later, Missouri Governor Phil M. Donnelly appointed him the first African-American judge for the city of St. Louis. In 1972, McMillian was elected to the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District by Governor Warren E. Hearnes and became the first member of his race to serve on that court. In 1978, he became the first and only African-American to reach the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Nominated by President Jimmy Carter, he was unanimously confirmed in 20 minutes. During his tenure, McMillian wrote landmark decisions on desegregation, free speech, civil rights, employment discrimination and affirmative action. Dedicated to his hometown, McMillian committed himself to improving the St. Louis area. He was a past president and founder of the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, one of the founders of the anti-poverty agency Human Development Corp., and founder of what is now the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. He was president of the St. Louis Urban League for a decade and served on the board of St. Louis' Catholic Charities. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, McMillian donated $250,000 to the Saint Louis University School of Law to assist students with financial aid. The Theodore McMillian Scholarship Fund requires recipients to serve as interns for community organizations. Concluding his masterpiece life, Judge McMillian succumbed to the effect of age, diabetes mellitus and kidney failure.∼Judge Theodore McMillian died 1/18/06. Service 1/23/06 at St.Alphonus Rock Catholic Church.Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Judge McMillian departed this life on January 18 2006 at Barnes-Jewish Hosptial at 6:45 a.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Minnie Foster, his son Theodore McMillian Jr., and his three brothers Augustus, Charles, and Henry.
Attorney and social pioneer. A native of St. Louis, McMillian graduated from Vashon High School after 3 years in 1936, and where he was first in his class, class president and a member of the National Honor Society. He received his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from Missouri's Lincoln University and his law degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. McMillian was one of the first African Americans to earn admission to the university's law school and worked his way through law school as a janitor at night. Despite his rigorous schedule, McMillian was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, graduated first in his class, and was the first African-American named to Alpha Sigma Nu, a Jesuit National Honor Society. McMillian broke racial barriers throughout his law career. After graduating first in his class at "SLU" in 1949, McMillian became the first African-American assistant prosecutor in the city of St. Louis. Three years later, Missouri Governor Phil M. Donnelly appointed him the first African-American judge for the city of St. Louis. In 1972, McMillian was elected to the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District by Governor Warren E. Hearnes and became the first member of his race to serve on that court. In 1978, he became the first and only African-American to reach the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Nominated by President Jimmy Carter, he was unanimously confirmed in 20 minutes. During his tenure, McMillian wrote landmark decisions on desegregation, free speech, civil rights, employment discrimination and affirmative action. Dedicated to his hometown, McMillian committed himself to improving the St. Louis area. He was a past president and founder of the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, one of the founders of the anti-poverty agency Human Development Corp., and founder of what is now the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. He was president of the St. Louis Urban League for a decade and served on the board of St. Louis' Catholic Charities. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, McMillian donated $250,000 to the Saint Louis University School of Law to assist students with financial aid. The Theodore McMillian Scholarship Fund requires recipients to serve as interns for community organizations. Concluding his masterpiece life, Judge McMillian succumbed to the effect of age, diabetes mellitus and kidney failure.∼Judge Theodore McMillian died 1/18/06. Service 1/23/06 at St.Alphonus Rock Catholic Church.Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Attorney and social pioneer. A native of St. Louis, McMillian graduated from Vashon High School after 3 years in 1936, and where he was first in his class, class president and a member of the National Honor Society. He received his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from Missouri's Lincoln University and his law degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. McMillian was one of the first African Americans to earn admission to the university's law school and worked his way through law school as a janitor at night. Despite his rigorous schedule, McMillian was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, graduated first in his class, and was the first African-American named to Alpha Sigma Nu, a Jesuit National Honor Society. McMillian broke racial barriers throughout his law career. After graduating first in his class at "SLU" in 1949, McMillian became the first African-American assistant prosecutor in the city of St. Louis. Three years later, Missouri Governor Phil M. Donnelly appointed him the first African-American judge for the city of St. Louis. In 1972, McMillian was elected to the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District by Governor Warren E. Hearnes and became the first member of his race to serve on that court. In 1978, he became the first and only African-American to reach the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Nominated by President Jimmy Carter, he was unanimously confirmed in 20 minutes. During his tenure, McMillian wrote landmark decisions on desegregation, free speech, civil rights, employment discrimination and affirmative action. Dedicated to his hometown, McMillian committed himself to improving the St. Louis area. He was a past president and founder of the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, one of the founders of the anti-poverty agency Human Development Corp., and founder of what is now the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. He was president of the St. Louis Urban League for a decade and served on the board of St. Louis' Catholic Charities. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, McMillian donated $250,000 to the Saint Louis University School of Law to assist students with financial aid. The Theodore McMillian Scholarship Fund requires recipients to serve as interns for community organizations. Concluding his masterpiece life, Judge McMillian succumbed to the effect of age, diabetes mellitus and kidney failure.∼Judge Theodore McMillian died 1/18/06. Service 1/23/06 at St.Alphonus Rock Catholic Church.Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.
