By Mike Kinney
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. lauded the late Richmond Councilmember McMillan for “never backing down” when taking on the “Cowboy Squad” back in the 1980s.
Brown was referencing a group of Richmond police officers nicknamed the Cowboys who were described as targeting people of color in the community around that time period.
McMillan, a beloved pharmacist, would hear about police abuses of power at his southside Richmond pharmacy, which doubled as a community hangout. He ultimately decided to run for City Council to tackle the issue head on. After serving three four-year terms and creating the city’s first police commission to hold bad cops accountable, McMillan helped to usher in pioneering police reform.
“He loved Richmond and represented all of Richmond.”
On Friday, Dec. 13, former Mayor Brown served as the keynote speaker in a memorial to McMillian, who died in his home in the city’s Panhandle District on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 29, at age 97.
Former Richmond Mayor Nat Bates, a longtime friend and political ally of McMillan, served as coordinator and host for the memorial. Current Mayor Eduardo Martinez issued a Certificate of Achievement acknowledging the late councilmember’s contributions. Harpreet Sandhu, field representative to Congressmember John Garamendi, along with Congressmember Mark DeSaulnier, signed a Congressional Certificate honoring his legacy.
At the opening of the memorial service, City Manager Shasa Curl offered a welcoming, which was followed by powerful songs performed by Sheila Morris that evoked cheers from the audience. County Supervisor John Gioia said hearing of McMillan’s death “hit me hard.”
“He loved Richmond and represented all of Richmond,” Gioia said. “He truly impacted people’s lives in such a positive way.”
Lesa McIntosh, current EBMUD board member and former Richmond City Councilmember, credited McMillan with launching her City Council career.
“He became friends with my entire family, and we viewed James as family,” she said. “He was a friend and mentor. He made our entire community so much better.”
Richmond resident Brenda Payton attended the memorial, calling the gathering “powerful.”
“It showed our entire community what a beautiful difference Councilman McMillian made to everyone in Richmond,” Payton said.
A native of Texas and a graduate of Oregon State University in pharmacology, McMillian owned McMillian’s Pharmacy at S.36 Street and 3601 Cutting Blvd from 1962 to 1995. In addition to his work on City Council, he is remembered for opening the gateway for other successful Black businesses along Cutting Boulevard and in Richmond’s Southside district in general. Read our more detailed report on this life here.
