By N. L. CHRISTENSEN For a long time Mildred B. tMiIliel Hall wrote a local column for the Herald called “About People ” This article is “about Millie ” Af ter more than a quarter century with the newspaper first as women’s editor and later writing the column of personal items – Mrs. Hall has retired for health reasons and to devote more time to other pursuits Millie applied for the position of Herald Society editor in 1950. She’d written some song lyrics and lots of poetry but lacked experience with newspaper deadlines. The editor at that time asked the former editor. the late Ernest R. Rasmuson, for an evaluation. His reply: ”1 don’! know whether Millie can write. but 1 can tell you she’s the funniest woman I know.” He was alIuding to her super sense of humor. having heard her give humorous readings at church and community events. Millie had been secretary-bookkeeper at Ahlander’s for 11 years. Hut yielding to her desire to write, she took the lgIfrald job and soon proved to be an adept reporter and itor. Reminiscing about those days with a mix of humor and nostalgia. Millie says she always tried to “launcb” newlyweds with a good writeup on their wedding. Once. though. she inadvertently omitted the name of the best man. brother of the hridegroom. incurring the wrath of the mother who said the newspaper had gotten the couple off to a “bad start.” The new society editor was relieved when the marriage “held together.” The bridegroom ultimately became a bishop. Another timc. the printers. in correcting an error in a wedding reception writeup. put the corrected line in the wrong place. so that the paragraph read: “The ushers .. tnaming a few young men of the community)…wore floorlength gowns o dotted swiss in pastel colors. and carried noaegays ” No complaints from the family in this case they just laughed and enjoyed llie slip. . it could have happened to any society editor. but Millie once took a sports item on the phone about a women’s golf toumey. Writing it up, she said that “tea time” would be at Z p.m. Ray Schwartz. then sports editor. caught the booboo and inserted the correct got term, “tee time.” But Millie made up for that lapse by taking a super picture with a press camera which was as foreign to her as golf clubs. The hospital phoned – triplets ha been bom. With no photogranhers in sight. Millie shouldered the camera. followed t e city editor’s instructions – and came up with a winner A society editor covers society, naturally. Once Millie was invited to an elegant party of the elite social set. She donned her tanciest dress and white gloves and traveled to the garty on the best transportation available that day A her icycle. best the Cadillac crowd look down on her mode of travel, she ditched Nellie (as she called the bike) in some nearby shrubbery. When the great day ended, Millie turned down several ride offers. And after the last car had pulled away she embodied homeward aboard Nellie. in 1955. she gave lip her women’s section editorship to join her husband Wil ord (Pop) Hall on a mission for the LDS Church. Their assignment: Managing the visitors center at Rochester, Minn. While there. she used her music and journalistic talents to write a “mission song.” Millie and Wilford, a happy. compatible couple, served two additional missions – at the Joseph Smith Home, Hill Oimorah, and Peter Whitmer Farm. During most of this tenure, their daughter Rosalie twife of Gera Wilde, Provo educatort and daughter-in-law Pat Hall kept the column going. in more recent years, Mrs, Hall served as Relief Society president in the Provo Third Ward and worked in the Provo Temple. also keeping her column going, of course. She eitpects to continue writing poetry. and maybe some music. in her latest song-writing effort, she collaborated with Prof. Douglas E. Bush in writing a Christmas carol. “Slng Praises.” he the music, she the lyrics. Millie enjoyed writlng “About People” because it gave her a chance to share pleasant experiences with Herald readers – anniversaries. reunions, achievements. And her emlpathy and understanding were increased when readers tol of deaths and other tragedies. Mrs. Hall has had her own share of sorrow. including the death of her husband 16 years ago; and of her son Stanley late in 1971. not long after he received his doctor of jurisprudence degree. She says she received a great deal of comfort from tributes accorded her husban and son. An especially poignant tribute was paid to Millie herself. after Stanley’s death. in a column by a colleague. Theron H. Luke. who told of her faith and character in the face of adversige At her retirement from the Herald, Managing Editor n R. Hansen sent Millie a bouquet of roses “wlth love from your Herald family.” Certainly the staffers who worked with her, will always regard Millie as a kindred spirit in this game of words and deadlines…an emerltus member of the team.