IL HR0959

Illinois House of Representatives mourns the death of James Michael "Mike" Mills of Murphysboro, who passed away on December 29, 2020.

Mills founded Murphysboro Dental Lab in 1963 and opened 17th Street Barbecue in 1985, becoming a renowned barbecue pit master known internationally as "The Legend."

Mills was co-captain of the Apple City Barbecue team in the early 1990s, co-authored two barbecue books, and was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2010.

Mills was an active member of community organizations including the Elks, Masons, and Shriners, and was named a Distinguished Alumni by Murphysboro Township High School in 2014.

Murphysboro was named BBQ Capital of Illinois in 2015 by the Illinois General Assembly in recognition of Mills' contributions to his community.