RJ Readers: Jimmy Kimmel ripped on a Vegas teacher for a reason

Readers sent me letters this week regarding a Vegas teacher named Mr. Mills — who Jimmy Kimmel dissed nationally last weekend.

A quick recap: Kimmel was the marquee comedian during President Obama’s White House Correspondents Dinner. Kimmel went to school at Clark and wrapped up his Correspondents routine with this joke:

"I also want to thank Mr. Mills, my 10th grade high school history teacher, who said I'd never amount to anything if I kept screwing around in class. Mr. Mills, I'm about to high-five the president of the United States. Eat it, Mills."

I asked readers if there really was a Mr. Mills. Here’s what some people emailed me this week, explicitly giving me permission to print their comments. I’ve edited them only for a few trivial newspaper style issues.

1. ‘Mr. Mills would be proud’

Hi Doug,

Enjoyed your column this morning and to answer your question regarding if there really is Mr. Mills, indeed there is. I graduated from Clark High in 1983 two years ahead of Jimmy Kimmel (I didn't know him at Clark) and I also had Mr. Mills my sophomore year for history. And I will be willing to bet that Mr. Mills would be proud of Jimmy's accomplishments thus far. Mr Mill's was one of the few teachers that I actually remember, and that is mainly because he demonstrated actual concern for the futures of the kids that he had in his class. He was a fine teacher and I hope that more of kids that he taught have the memory of him that I do. Please feel free to contract me if you would like more information.

Sincerely,

Bryan Anderson

2. ‘Absolutely Ruthless’

Mr. Elfman,

Good morning!! I read your column in the RJ today and felt like I had to write you. I went to Clark HS and had Mr. Mills for US History. I’m a couple of years older than Jimmy Kimmel so we weren’t in the same class but when I heard that portion of his act regarding Mr. Mills I knew for sure he was talking about George Mills. There were times he could be absolutely ruthless — mostly to the guys in the class.

Not knowing Jimmy Kimmel but knowing Mr. Mills I would have to believe his statement is true.

My brother called me the morning it started airing and although he never had Mr. Mills he knew immediately it was him. I have to admit by the end of my 11th grade year I kind of liked Mr. Mills but I always tried to stay on his good side!

Colleen

3. ‘We sneaked into the classroom and painted that podium with honey’

Hi,

In today’s column you wrote about Jimmy Kimmel’s comment on Mr. Mills at Clark and asked if he was real.

I’m a 1976 Clark grad and had Mr. Mills for government. He was very strict but a great teacher and I can visualize Kimmel in the room with him. Mills would have eventually smiled but boy he would have been peeved. Each day Mills came into the classroom, he would place his attendance book on a podium and pull it toward him. My little group had been caught by him passing a note once which he read out loud in class. So, just before graduation, we sneaked into the classroom and painted that podium with honey. Veins were popping out of his neck and eyes and he said that whoever did that would not be graduating. I don’t think that he ever knew 100% who pulled that prank, we all graduated but he gave every one of us a stare down with his baby blues at the ceremony. I actually liked him if I wasn’t in trouble!

Karen Carlson Fisher

4. ‘I believe that Mr. Mills is proud of your accomplishments and probably laughed’

Dear Mr. Elfman...

I've been following the Jimmy Kimmel "dis" to Mr. Mills with a quiet smirk on my face.

I attended E. W. Clark High School from 1979 until graduation in 1982. I too had Mr. Mills for History during my senior year. I can picture him chewing out his students (I might have been on the receiving end once or twice) because that man did not put up with s__t from his students.

Not sure what year Mr. Kimmel attend my alma mater (his picture does not appear in any of my yearbooks), but I can assure you that Mr. Mills did indeed exist...maybe he still does.

If you have occasion to check out the yearbooks, you will notice that he is not pictured. He did not like to be photographed. Another piece of info that you might find interesting is that anyone who attended Clark High School has NEVER had their yearbook signed by Mr. Mills. I can tell you why.

During my senior year and with yearbook in hand, I went around to my friends and favorite teachers and asked them to sign my book and possibly add some words of wisdom. When I approached Mr. Mills with my simple request, I was sternly denied. When I asked him why he wouldn't sign my treasured yearbook (at first thinking it was because he didn't like me), he proceeded to tell me something that I still remember to this day. He said that he never signs the books because not everyone making up the student-body could afford a yearbook (they were pretty pricey), therefore he didn't think it right and didn't want to be misconstrued as playing favorites. Interesting I thought. Again...something I still remember.

Mr. Mills, at the time, was considered one of the toughest teachers, but I liked him and to this day still think that he was one of the best I ever had.

To Mr. Kimmel...I believe that Mr. Mills is proud of your accomplishments and probably laughed right along with everyone else. That's just how he rolled.

Pasqualina Biancaniello (part of the "Brew Crew of '82)

5. ‘Mr. Mills is known for telling kids that they wouldn't amount to anything’

Read with amusement your post on Jimmy Kimmel dated May 1, 2012 in the Las Vegas Review Journal. Jimmy and my brother were in the same Clark High School graduating class (1985), and I was two years behind (class of 1987). In response to your question about whether there was a "real Mr. Mills at Clark High during Kimmel's time there", the answer is: yes, there was a Mr. Mills who taught History. Both Jimmy and my brother had him during their Sophomore year, and I had him as well. I guess Mr. Mills is known for telling kids that they wouldn't amount to anything...he told a kid named Richard, who was in my class, that he wouldn't amount to anything. Don't know what he (Richard) is doing now, but hopefully Mr. Mills has retired.

Sincerely,

Angela M. Hensley, Esq.