Rep. Steve McMillan's legacy thrives in Baldwin County after recent death

Alabama's longest serving representative will be laid to rest Saturday

By Allison Marlow Managing Editor allisonm@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 5/6/22

The state-run veterans' home in Bay Minette stands because he made it so. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo opened its doors on time because he introduced legislation that waived sales tax, allowing the new …

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Rep. Steve McMillan's legacy thrives in Baldwin County after recent death

Alabama's longest serving representative will be laid to rest Saturday

Posted

The state-run veterans' home in Bay Minette stands because he made it so. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo opened its doors on time because he introduced legislation that waived sales tax, allowing the new zoo to save construction costs that would have indefinitely delayed the project. The Lodge at Gulf State Park, the Alabama School of Math and Science and the teacher of the year programs were projects he spearheaded.

Your pooch can dine at your feet, thanks to him. He put laws in place to protect children from abuse at youth residential facilities.

Rep. Steve McMillan is gone.

The legislation he crafted will impact lives in Baldwin County for decades.

“Steve McMillan was a living legend and the dean of our delegation, the dean of the entire Alabama House of Representatives. For 42 years, the people of his district sent him to Montgomery term after term because they knew he was a true servant leader. And he did more for people than they will ever know because he was the type of person who was more about doing hard work than about trying to get the headlines. I will miss my friend and mentor Steve McMillan immensely and this is a big loss for Baldwin County and our state," said Rep. Matt Simpson (R - Daphne), Chairman of the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation.

McMillan died at home last week at age 81. In January he announced that doctors had found three small tumors on his brain. He vowed to continue to serve as often as his condition would allow.

McMillan represented State House District No. 95, which includes Barnwell, Bon Secour, Elberta, Foley, Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Josephine, Lillian, Magnolia Springs, Miflin, Ono Island, Orange Beach, Perdido Beach, Robertsdale and Summerdale.

In July 2021, McMillan announced that he would not run for another term in the Alabama House of Representatives. The decision marked the twilight of a 42-year career in Montgomery that began in 1980 after he won a special election to step into the seat his twin brother, John McMillan, had vacated when he was appointed commissioner of conservation and natural resources.

He took the job after always being what he calls an active citizen involved in local issues. The term had just two years left. McMillan has held the seat since.

His focus in those years was on the people he served. He made a point to return phone calls. He spoke to people when they were excited, upset and angry. When he saw a need he tried to fill it.

“I was blessed to get to work with Steve for many years in the legislature and, hands down, he was one of the best of the best up there in Montgomery. He always made sure to take care of the folks in Baldwin County and would do anything he could for anybody who called with a problem," said Rep. Harry Shiver (R-Stockton).

"He was a great man, a great friend and a great champion for Baldwin County. You aren’t going to be able to fill those shoes he left. You can’t take Steve McMillan’s place – you can just get to be the person who gets to sit in his seat and try to do the job as good as he did," he said.

McMillan will be laid to rest Saturday, May 7. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. Funeral services begin at 2 p.m. The service is open to the public.