Laddy Mills?

Laddie and I met in Salem, Massachusetts in the late seventies.

We were both coming back to the game after long layoffs.

We struck up a mutual friendship that lasted all these years.

Before he opened his room in Seabrook, I would travel up to his home and we would play straight pool for hour upon hour. I was determined to run 100 balls and I kept going to his home until I reached my goal.

I finally reached my goal but I never stopped going to his home. He was a true gentleman and pleasure to play against.

I'll always treasure our times together. Both in the pool rooms we visited and our social lives.

It was my pleasure to induct you and your son Richie into The New England Pool and Billiard Hall of Fame.

Rest in peace, (Laddie,) Louie Mills.

One of the good guys!
 
I was deeply saddened by this news. Laddie was truly a great old school gentleman. He and I sat for about an hour at the Navy Yard tournament two weeks ago. We talked about our old pool rooms, our kids, our health and pool stories from the All About Pool Tour days.

Laddie could still play. I think he came in 4th at that tournament (we both talked about how difficult it is to get through a full event---you old guys will understand). He actually showed me how to make a shot I had been having trouble with of late.

Laddie Mills was a man who lived under the old "Honor" rules. Again, old guys know what I am talking about. There were things you did and things that were not acceptable. If you were his friend you knew he would have your back.

Rest in peace Laddie. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet you.

Bob Campbell
 
Well said Bob!

I think I played in five or six tournaments with him before we even exchanged words. He was a man that said a lot using few words.

OLD SCHOOL!
 
I worked for Laddie for years throughout high school and college in the early 90's. Laddie had picked up a Schon R6 from Mike Lebron and he let me try it out one day at work....it was love at 1st ball w/ that cue and I told him that if he ever wanted to sell it would he be kind enough to give me the right of 1st refusal and he promised he would. Fast forward to 2009 and years since he closed his room and a good 10+ yrs since I had seen him last....I had not played a single rack of pool for over a decade and found myself drawn back to the game and went down to a local room on league night to see if anyone needed a player. I literally bumped into a guy and spilled his drink at which point I was apologizing excessively when I realize who it is....We spent the next 1/2 hr catching up and through happenstance we wind up on the same team for a session before he moved on to play elsewhere. About a year later he calls me out of the blue and says he is going to sell his Schon but only if I am still interested in the cue, otherwise he is going to put it in the case for his grandson. I bought it sent it out to Schon for a complete refinish and voila....I have the cue I waited 20 yrs for. When we next got together at his house he chuckles and says "WOW this came out great...any chance you want to sell it back to me", at which point I say sure but I had to wait for 20 years to get this and seeing we are friends I will only make you wait 10 years before I sell it back to you and we both fell down laughing.

Bob is right, he was a gentleman cut from the cloth of a generation where men were men and his word meant not just something...but EVERYTHING. I learned a lot from him, some about pool but more about life and being a man. RIP my friend.
Eddie
 
Good story Eddie. I know you will miss him. He was a good, no, great man. This shakes me to the core. Like I said, he and I had a great talk a couple of weeks ago.

Bob
 
I started playing pool seriously in Laddie's L&J poolroom in Seabrook. For many years I was a regular in his room. I played Laddie almost everyday...straight pool. Laddie was a solid open player and played in most of the local tournaments around New England. Laddie taught me just about everything I know about pool.

They say that pool will bring out your true character. I never once saw him lose his demeanor at the table. He was always kind and considerate. He let you play your game and enjoyed your successes.

Laddie was a gentleman, a father figure, and friend. I will miss him.
 
I offer my condolences as well. I played Laddie a few times over the years and certainly agree with what has already been posted about the nature of the man.
 
Condolences

I met and got to know Laddie through most of the 1970s when he visited us at our pool room in Salem, MA. He had some travel to get there from NH but didn't miss many tournaments. He was a solid player and a real gentleman. He especially made it a point to participate in our double round robin straight pool leagues that we played every Tuesday for eight weeks at a time. He was a gentleman pool player but didn't give an inch and had a good share of glory. He is one of the very good people that I miss since I left New England what seems a very long time ago.

With great respect and my deepest condolences to Laddie's family - Mike Mason
 
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Well said..

doitforthegame said:
I was deeply saddened by this news. Laddie was truly a great old school gentleman. He and I sat for about an hour at the Navy Yard tournament two weeks ago. We talked about our old pool rooms, our kids, our health and pool stories from the All About Pool Tour days.

Laddie could still play. I think he came in 4th at that tournament (we both talked about how difficult it is to get through a full event---you old guys will understand). He actually showed me how to make a shot I had been having trouble with of late.

Laddie Mills was a man who lived under the old "Honor" rules. Again, old guys know what I am talking about. There were things you did and things that were not acceptable. If you were his friend you knew he would have your back.

Rest in peace Laddie. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet you.

Bob Campbell
Click to expand...

Bob,
That day at the Navy Yard was also the first thing that ran thru my mind. I had a chance that day to chat with Laddie about the old days. It was great to have the chance to remember and take a stroll down memory lane with someone who had a true "honorable" love for the game. The New England pool scene has lost another "Old Schooler". He will be missed....RIP
 
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