The Newton Record; 02 May 2001, Wed; Page 1

Well-known area banker, businessman dies at 97

Milton McMullan, 97, a resident of Newton for 61 years, died Tuesday, April 24, at Jeff Anderson Hospital in Meridian.

McMullan was born on Jan. 25, 1904, in Sylvarena, MS. He was the third son of Dillard and Minnie McMulIan, who had 11 children and raised nine.

The nine surviving children were Malcolm, Pat, Milton, Dimple, Clementine, Maude, Dillard, Jerry and John. Clementine and Jerry are still living.

The Dillard McMullan family moved to Lake in 1921 from Sylvarena. Milton graduated from Smith County Agricultural High School in 1920 and worked in his father's bank until his enrollment at Ole Miss, where he roomed with the late Sen. Jim Eastland.

After his election to the Senate, Eastland invited McMullan to move to Washington, D.C. to manage his office. McMullan declined, preferring to stay in Mississippi to raise his children.

After college, McMullan taught history and civics at Lake High School. In 1926 he joined his father's McMullan Motor Company where he sold Ford Model Ts and Model As, and autos manufactured by Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth.

Milton met Thelma Boozer at the McMullan Motor Company and they were married on May 13, 1928. The couple had four children - Martha Aasen, Westport, CT; Sarah McMullan, Nacogdoches, TX; James McMullan, Lake Forest, IL; and David McMullan, Jackson, MS.

McMullan is survived by 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include daughters-in-law Madeleine McMullan, Lake Forest, IL; Patty McMullan, Jackson, MS; and son-in-law Larry Aasen, Westport, CT.

Other survivors include McMullan's sisters, Mrs. Clementine Brown, Jackson, MS, and Mrs. Jerry Brown, Tupelo, MS.

McMullan served as vice president of the Lake Bank and managed the motor company after his father's death. In 1940, the Milton McMullan family moved to Newton. Milton and Thelma owned and managed the McMullan Motor Company until they sold it in 1968.

A director and loan committee member for the Newton County Bank, McMullan also served on the Newton Municipal School District board, and he was a charter member of the Newton Chamber of Commerce.

He served as director of the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association and was a director of the Deep South Equipment Association. In 1967 he was named Newton's Man of the Year.

McMullan was active in civic and community affairs in the Newton area for nearly 60 years. He helped bring the Newton Company, La-Z-Boy, and ESCO to Newton.

Gov. Paul Johnson appointed him to the Mississippi State Park Commission, and McMullan was a colonel on the staffs of governors Johnson, Waller, Finch and Winter.

After retiring in 1968, his interests included fishing, birds, gardening, genealogy, investing, travelling and writing. Milton and Thelma shared a love for politics, poetry, community service, history, nature and education. He often quoted his mother, and one of his favorite quotes was "The only thing you can take with you is what you give away."

McMullan enjoyed writing, and published "Lake Chronicles -True Tales of a Mississippi Boyhood" in 1990 and "Profiles from Lake in the Silver Age" in 1993.

Milton and Thelma were active in Democratic politics and served as delegates to the 1964 Democratic Convention. They also were strong supporters of the McMullan Library, Ole Miss, East Central Community College, Mary Baldwin College and the Newton Presbyterian Church.

Milton and Thelma, and their son James, have sponsored scholarships for Newton High School students since 1987. The McMullans made a onetime donation to the J. Elliott McMullan Public Library in 1983 to purchase books to establish a Mississippi collection - books by Mississippi authors or books about Mississippi. In 1990, they established the Milton and Thelma McMullan Library Endowment Trust, the interest from which is used annually to purchase new books for the Newton library.

Because of his longevity, McMullan often spoke about the fact that he had twice seen Halley's Comet.

Thelma, Milton's wife of, 71 years, died on Dec, 10, 1998.

Funeral services were held last Saturday for Milton McMullan at the Newton Presbyterian Church. Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Milton McMullan's memory to the Newton Public Library.
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The Newton Record; 18 Feb 1981, Wed; Page 3; Newton, Mississippi

Native Elected Chairman

James M. McMullan of Lake Forest, Ill, has been elected the 1981 chairman of the Central States District of the Securities Industry Association. The Securities Industry Association is the trade association representing approximately 500 securities firms headquartered throughout the United States and Canada. The Central States District includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

McMullan is a partner in the investment firm of William Blair & Co. of Chicago, where he is manager of the Corporate Syndicate Department and has responsibility for the firm's branch offices. Educated at the University of Mississippi (BA) and the University of Chicago (MBA), McMullan joined William Blair & Co. in 1969 and became a partner in 1972.

Active in industry affairs, he was a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers District 8 Business Conduct Committee from 1975 through 1978 and has served on the National SIA Syndicate Committee.

McMullan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton McMullan of Newton. He and his wife, Madeleine have two daughters. Carlette and Margaret.
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The Newton Record; 10 Jun 1981, Wed; Page 2; Newton, Mississippi

Graduates With Honors

Annabel Elizabeth McMullan Barber was graduated magna cum laude from Mary Baldwin College at commencement exercises held in Staunton, Va. on May 28. Miss Barber is the daughter of Mrs. Sarah McMullan Zillmer of Nacogdoches, Texas and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Milton McMullan of Newton.

On Class Day held earlier this week, Miss Barber was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, honorary scholastic fraternity; Omicron Delta Kappa, honorary leadership fraternity; Beta Beta Beta, honorary biology fraternity; Iota Sigma Pi, honorary chemistry fraternity; and was named to Who's Who Among Studetns in American Universities and Colleges.

Miss Barber has been admitted to the medical school of the University of Texas at Houston, where she will begin her studies in September.
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The Newton Record; 06 May 1992, Wed; Page 12; Newton, Mississippi

Guests in the Milton McMullan home recently have included their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. Among these: David and Patty McMullan of Jackson; Sarah McMullan of Nacogdoches, TX; Frank David Barber III and Colleen Barber and children, Caroline and Frank IV and Jamie and Amanda Barber of New Orleans, LA; Paul and Lisa Barber and son, Bryce, of Washington, D.C; Jim McMullan and daughter, Carlette of Chicago, IL; Dr. Annabel Barber and husband, Dr. Bob Wong of New York City; Jewel Smith of Forest; and Pat Brown of Ripley. Occasion for visitors were first Milton's surgery; second Easter and third the death of Milton's brother, John B. McMullan, of Jackson.
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The Newton Record; 30 Aug 1995, Wed; Page 10; Newton, Mississippi

Jerry Brown and daughter, Pam Holloway, both of Tupelo, spent the night with the Milton McMullans last Tuesday. Jerry is Milton's sister.

The next day Sarah McMullan and her daughter, Amanda Barber, arrived to visit Sarah's parents, the McMullans.

Paul Barber and small son, Brice, came on Thursday. Frank David Barber III and two of his sons, Frank David IV and Jamie, arrived Saturday for the weekend. David and Patty McMullan of Jackson joined his parents and kin for the day Sunday.