Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Alice Francis DU PONT
Alice Francis du Pont Mills (December 13, 1912 - March 13, 2002) was an American aviatrix, thoroughbred race horse breeder and owner, environmentalist, philanthropist and a member of the prominent du Pont family.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware, the daughter of Alexis F. du Pont (1879–1948) and Mary Chichester (1878–1965), after graduating from Oldfields School in Glencoe, Maryland, the wealthy Alice du Pont pursued a wide variety of interests. Like her brothers, Felix and Richard, she too had a passion for flying. In 1932, she was only twenty years old when she and brother Richard flew an open-cockpit plane up the Amazon River.
In 1935, she married James Paul Mills (1908–1987), who shared her love of flying and with whom she had three children.
Her grandson was Richard P. Mills (aka Grimnir Wotansvolk / G. Heretik, owner of the American National Socialist black metal record label and distro "Vinland Winds") who died in mysterious circumstances on August 28, 2006
During World War II, Ms du Pont Mills served as a volunteer flight instructor for United States military pilots at an airfield on Long Island, New York. With the war over, in 1946 she and her husband flew a single-engine plane from New York City to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Chichester du Pont Foundation was incorporated in 1946 by Alice du Pont Mills, Felix du Pont, Lydia Chichester du Pont, and Mary Chichester du Pont Clark. The foundation, which remains in operation, is primarily involved in supporting youth with donations made to social service organizations for the direct benefit of children.
In 1949, she and her husband settled on a country estate in Middleburg, Virginia where they maintained Hickory Tree Farm and Stable, a thoroughbred breeding and racing operation. Her stable won numerous stakes races, notably in 1966 when her filly Glad Rags won a British Classic Race, the 1,000 Guineas Stakes. At the 1982 Keeneland yearling sale she bought the Windfields Farm colt, Devil's Bag. Trained by Woody Stephens, Devil's Bag was voted the Eclipse Award winner as American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 1983 and a favorite for the 1984 Kentucky Derby, However, the horse had to be retired after sustaining an injury. Devil's Bag was syndicated for US$36 million as a breeding sire, and produced more than 40 stakes winners before his death in 2005.
Through her involvement with thoroughbred horses, Alice du Pont Mills became a member of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, Hickory Tree Farm and Stable elected a member of its Hall of Fame. She served as a Trustee of the United States Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, was an Advisory Trustee to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and was a Director of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. A founding member of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia, Alice du Pont Mills' cousin, Marion duPont Scott, was a significant owner/breeder in both flat and steeplechase racing.
Involved in a number of charitable works, Alice du Pont Mills was a member of the national board of directors of Planned Parenthood. A conservationist, she was an active advocate for the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources, serving as founding member of Virginia's Bull Run Conservancy and the Piedmont Environmental Council and became a Trustee of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
MILLS-Alice duPont, of Middleburg, VA and Hobe Sound, FL, died March 13, 2002 at the age of 89, after a brief illness. Born in Wilmington, Delaware on December 13, 1912, Mrs. Mills was the daughter of the late A. Felix duPont and Mary Chichester duPont. After graduating from Oldfields, Mrs. Mills pursued a wide variety of interests. An advanced instrumentrated aircraft pilot, she flew an open-cockpit plane up the Amazon River in 1932 along with her late brother, Richard C. duPont. During World War II, she served as a flight instructor for military pilots in Long Island, N.Y., and upon the war's conclusion, piloted one of the pioneer single-engine airplane flights between New York and Buenos Aires with her husband, the late James Paul Mills, whom she married in 1935. Upon moving to Middleburg, Virginia in 1949, Mrs. Mills continued her involvement in philanthropic activities, environmental affairs and Thoroughbred horse racing. She pioneered numerous family planning programs in the course of her work for Planned Parenthood in Northern Virginia, and served as a member of Planned Parenthood's national board of directors, as well as local chairperson for its Mineola, NY chapter. Mrs. Mills was an active proponent of conservation efforts in Virginia, and in serving as founding member of the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Bull Run Conservancy, and later as Trustee of Virginia Outdoors Foundation, championed the preservation of scenic open spaces through conservation easement programs. As past chairperson and trustee of the Chichester duPont Foundation, Mrs. Mills promoted the efforts of numerous not-for-profit organizations throughout the nation. Her life-long passion for Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding was evidenced by numerous stakeswinners campaigned through her Hickory Tree Farm near Middleburg, including Believe It, Devils' Bag, Gone West, Gorytus, Glad Rags II and Hagley. Mrs. Mills was a member of Virginia Thoroughbred Association, and served as Trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Her philanthropic efforts on behalf of Thoroughbred racing and Breeding included service as a founding member of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, as Advisory Trustee to the National Museum of Racing, and as past Director of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Mrs. Mills was honored as 1991's Outstanding Owner/Breeder by the Virginia Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Assocation, and received the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Association's Ladies' Sportsmanship Award in 1970. Mrs. Mills was predeceased by her husband, James Paul Mills, Sr., in 1987. She is survived by her daughters Mimi (Mrs. J. William) Abel Smith, of Middleburg, Virginia, and Phyllis (Mrs. James B.) Wyeth, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania; her son, James P. Mills, Jr., of Middleburg, and her grandchildren: Richard P. Mills, of New York and Sophie E. Mills of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. A memorial Service will be held 4 PM, Saturday March 23, at the Grace Episcopal Church, the Plains, Virginia.
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