Class of 1938

Joe, who was Jim’s twin brother, also graduated in 1938 as a three-sport athlete. He, too, was instrumental in leading Apex into the state playoffs in football and to the Class B state championship basketball game in 1938. He also played football, basketball, and baseball at N.C. State until 1940, whereupon he was drafted as well into the U.S. Army Air Corps and served for the duration of World War II. After the war, Joe went on to a brief career in minor league baseball. Joe also coached and officiated all three sports at many levels, including working as an umpire and basketball official in the high school and college ranks. He served for 20 years as an ACC basketball official and for 33 years as an ACC baseball umpire. Jim and Joe Mills officiated over 1,200 basketball and football games together over the years. In 1984, Joe was given the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award by Governor Jim Hunt, the highest civilian honor that can be given to a citizen of North Carolina. He was also inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 1999 along with his brother Jim.