Fred Mills, a University professor in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and an internationally-known trumpet player, was killed in a car accident Monday in Walton County, according to published reports.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, citing officials from the Georgia State Patrol, reported Mills died in a crash but details surrounding the wreck have not been released.

Mills, 74, who joined the UGA faculty in 1996, has performed in concert halls across the globe, and made dozens of recordings as a member of the Canadian Brass, known as one of the world’s greatest brass ensembles. At UGA he coached the Bulldog Brass Society, a group comprised of graduate assistants.

Mills was in the news earlier this year when Atlanta television station WSB erroneously accused him of misusing state funds while traveling abroad to perform at a festival in Italy. The trip, as it turns out, was paid for officials of the Italian festival.

“I was upset that I had no chance to rebut the false information presented in the report, as not a cent of state money was spent for my trip to Italy,” Mills told The Red & Black at the time. “The festival in Italy paid for everything – my travel expenses, hotel and food.”

In addition to performing, Mills was there to teach, direct and coach.

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