Welcome to the memorial page for
Louis Kelly McMillan Jr
February 8, 1929 ~ September 13, 2012 (age 83) 83 Years OldShare Tribute:
Louis Kelly McMillan, Jr., ‘52
Captain Louis Kelly McMillan, Jr., USNR (Ret.), died on September 13 in Destin, Florida after a prolonged illness. He was 83 years old.
“Lou” was born on February 8, 1929 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the only child of Louis Kelly and Josephine (McNally) McMillan. At the age of eleven, he left Arkansas to attend school at The Little Outfit in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He returned home to attend Pine Bluff High School where he was an accomplished baseball player. He spent one year at the Citadel before being appointed to the Naval Academy, where he was a member of the 20th Company. While at the Academy, Lou rowed for the Navy crew under coach, Rusty Callow, who provided lifelong inspiration.
Immediately following graduation in 1952, Lou went to Helsinki, Finland, as a member of the U.S. Olympic rowing team. There followed duty in surface ships and submarines. Sea duty was interrupted by a tour at the PG school in Monterey, where he earned a master’s degree in operations research. After a tour in THREADFIN, in Key West, he was assigned to SUBLANT staff, and then on to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 1966, Lou transferred from the regular Navy to the Naval Reserve where he remained active until his retirement in 1982.
In civilian life, Lou worked in operations research for Tracor, The Center for Naval Analysis, Vertex and Syscon Corporation, all consulting firms in the Washington, DC area. For many years, he was a successful (not one losing season!) coach of Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams. After retiring from Syscon in 1994, Lou and his wife, Helen (Moore) moved to Destin, Florida.
In Destin Lou was a devoted volunteer with The Greening of Destin, the Indian Bayou Homeowner’s Association, and Saint Simon’s on the Sound Episcopal church. He enjoyed playing golf with his ’52 buddies and traveling with Helen.
Lou is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helen; daughter, Cameron McFeeters (Jim); son, Mark; and three grandsons, James, Quinn and Ryan McFeeters. He also leaves behind his faithful English Cocker Spaniel, Abbey.
The McMillan family would like to recognize and thank the staffs of Crystal Bay Assisted Living Facility and Emerald Coast Hospice for their kind and unyielding support.
On Thursday, September 20 at 11:00am, a memorial service is to be held at St. Simon’s on the Sound, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. A memorial service with military honors will be held at the U. S. Naval Academy on Tuesday, September 25. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601; or the “Lou McMillan Memorial Fund”, St. Simon’s on the Sound, 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. Online donations are welcome through http://www.stsimons-fwb.org/#/giving-back.
Captain Louis Kelly McMillan, Jr., USNR (Ret.), died on September 13 in Destin, Florida after a prolonged illness. He was 83 years old.
“Lou” was born on February 8, 1929 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the only child of Louis Kelly and Josephine (McNally) McMillan. At the age of eleven, he left Arkansas to attend school at The Little Outfit in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He returned home to attend Pine Bluff High School where he was an accomplished baseball player. He spent one year at the Citadel before being appointed to the Naval Academy, where he was a member of the 20th Company. While at the Academy, Lou rowed for the Navy crew under coach, Rusty Callow, who provided lifelong inspiration.
Immediately following graduation in 1952, Lou went to Helsinki, Finland, as a member of the U.S. Olympic rowing team. There followed duty in surface ships and submarines. Sea duty was interrupted by a tour at the PG school in Monterey, where he earned a master’s degree in operations research. After a tour in THREADFIN, in Key West, he was assigned to SUBLANT staff, and then on to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 1966, Lou transferred from the regular Navy to the Naval Reserve where he remained active until his retirement in 1982.
In civilian life, Lou worked in operations research for Tracor, The Center for Naval Analysis, Vertex and Syscon Corporation, all consulting firms in the Washington, DC area. For many years, he was a successful (not one losing season!) coach of Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams. After retiring from Syscon in 1994, Lou and his wife, Helen (Moore) moved to Destin, Florida.
In Destin Lou was a devoted volunteer with The Greening of Destin, the Indian Bayou Homeowner’s Association, and Saint Simon’s on the Sound Episcopal church. He enjoyed playing golf with his ’52 buddies and traveling with Helen.
Lou is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helen; daughter, Cameron McFeeters (Jim); son, Mark; and three grandsons, James, Quinn and Ryan McFeeters. He also leaves behind his faithful English Cocker Spaniel, Abbey.
The McMillan family would like to recognize and thank the staffs of Crystal Bay Assisted Living Facility and Emerald Coast Hospice for their kind and unyielding support.
On Thursday, September 20 at 11:00am, a memorial service is to be held at St. Simon’s on the Sound, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. A memorial service with military honors will be held at the U. S. Naval Academy on Tuesday, September 25. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601; or the “Lou McMillan Memorial Fund”, St. Simon’s on the Sound, 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. Online donations are welcome through http://www.stsimons-fwb.org/#/giving-back.
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