Lamond Robert Mills

Lamond Robert Mills was a fourth-generation Nevadan who became one of the state's most colorful and respected trial lawyers. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1967 before joining the Army, where he was an honor graduate of Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Serving as a first lieutenant, he was wounded in combat during the Vietnam War and was decorated with a Bronze Star with a V for valor and oak leaf cluster, a Purple Heart, and the Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Service. In 1979 he received the Presidential Commendation for Outstanding Community Achievement for Vietnam Era Veterans. After the war he earned his law degree from the University of Utah in 1973.

Mills built a distinguished legal career in Nevada, serving as a senior partner in the firm of Mills, Galliher, Lukens, Gibson, Schwartzer & Shinehouse before being hand-picked by Senator Paul Laxalt to serve as U.S. Attorney for Nevada from 1981 to 1985. During his tenure he oversaw the convictions of prominent public officials brought down in the Operation Yobo bribery investigation, and he earned a reputation as a straight shooter of great integrity. Colleagues remembered him as an outstanding trial lawyer whose folksy, plain-spoken manner made him a powerful communicator in the courtroom. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman called him 'a wonderful human being No. 1 and a great lawyer No. 2' and 'a great Nevadan.'

After returning to private practice, Mills practiced criminal law and worked alongside his sons at the firm of Mills and Mills LLC. At the time of his death he was a member of the Colorado River Commission. He was active in the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Nevada, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, the Clark County Bar Association, and the Nevada Family Lawyers Association. A dedicated civic leader, he served as chairman of the Logandale Town Board, was involved with Moapa Valley Health Services and the Moapa Fire District Board, and gave his time to youth as an Explorer Scout adviser and Scout master. He died of cancer at his Las Vegas home on March 26, 2004, at the age of 62.