George McMillan lived an extraordinary life of service

George D.H. McMillan Jr. passed away over the weekend at the age of 81. Whether you knew of him as a former politician, an attorney, a businessman, a music festival pioneer or a Birmingham visionary, the common theme among the many hats he wore was service.

McMillan leaves behind a legacy built from serving Alabama and advocating for the state — specifically Birmingham — throughout his adult life.

George McMillan the politician

McMillan earned his bachelor degree from Auburn University where he served as president of the Student Government Association (alongside Gov. Kay Ivey), and later earned his law degree from the University of Virginia.

From 1970 to 1976, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve, achieving the rank of Captain. He clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Allgood and later began practicing law in his own firm, McMillan & Spratling.

He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1973, then served in the Alabama Senate until 1978.

McMillan then served as Lt. Governor of Alabama from 1979 to 1983. Building on that political momentum, he challenged veteran Alabama politician and former governor George Wallace in the 1982 gubernatorial race and lost in a tight race. His 1986 bid for the governor’s office fell short as well.

“He treasured being in public service and was a man of great ideas throughout his life, especially while he served our state as lieutenant governor and in the Legislature. My prayers are with him and his loved ones. He will be greatly missed!”

Gov. Kay Ivey

Life after politics

McMillan could have just faded back into a low profile life, but that would not have been consistent with his personality. Upon leaving politics, he went straight to work executing a vision for progress in Birmingham.

in 1989, McMillan founded City Stages, the state’s largest music and cultural festival for more than two decades. During a time when the city’s downtown area was seen as stagnant in regard to activity and growth, McMillan’s festival revived the area and led to much of the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Birmingham as we know it now.

In addition to founding City Stages, McMillan was also one of the founders of the Black Belt Community Foundation — which recently celebrated 20 years of helping grow and strengthen the communities with Alabama’s Black Belt — and helped establish the Alabama Film Commission.

During this time, McMillan also continued to practice law and mediation through McMillan & Associates.

A far-reaching legacy of service

Here are just some of the positions of service held by McMillan over the years:

• Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Chair of Alabama’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention
• Vice chair of the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors
• Founder and Chair for the Alabama Film Commission for the first seven years
• Vice chair of the Southern Growth Policies Board
• Active member of Rotary Club of Birmingham, serving a term on its board of directors
• In 1990, he was elected Birmingham’s “Citizen of the Year.”

McMillan is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ann Dial McMillan; his children, George McMillan III and Ann Dial Sims; two grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned on April 25 at Southside Baptist Church at 2PM.

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