Glenn Mills hands over the keys of B&J’s Sports in Harrison, but new owner vows to carry on

When Ben Urso approached Glenn Mills several years ago about taking over his B&J Sports store in Harrison, Mills turned him down, lamenting that “some day” he’ll be ready to retire.

That day has come.

“I’m delighted to be able to do it,” Urso said. “I feel wonderful when, mostly children, get the rewards of having a new uniform or new practice gear or new trophies because they won an award — just to see how happy it makes them.

“That’s really the duty of sports.”

Mills, now 88, has been a pillar in the local sports community for decades — even before he started his business part time in 1969, going full time in 1998.

From founding the Highland Hornets Youth Football and Cheerleading in 1969 to coaching Tarentum-Brackenridge Little League, Mills has contributed a lot to the local youth sports community.

He remains humble regarding his accomplishments and tries to stay in the background, barely accepting Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction in 2020.

He attributes most of the store’s success to his wife, Rose Mills.

“My wife is so helpful,” Mills said. “I couldn’t have this store without her. If I didn’t have a good wife, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”

Freeport Area School District Athletic Director Shawn Stivenson remembers a time when he bought custom letter jackets at B&J Sports in his youth.

“Taking my son there, it was actually like a flashback,” Stivenson said. “I wasn’t thinking of it, but when I walked in, it was a flashback to 30 years earlier: I remember being that person trying a jacket on.”

What made B&J Sports so memorable to many is Mills’ care for the lives of those he sells to.

“He always asked about your family, always asked about my kids,” Stivenson said. “If it was a Freeport-Highlands game, he was always there for basketball whether it was boys or girls — always interested in what was going on.”

Urso now batting

The community relies on the shop to provide intimate care regarding sports equipment, trophies and uniforms. It’s an aspect that makes the store unique.

“A lot of people are looking to do things online, but you don’t get the personal service,” Urso said. “Somebody has to be willing to service you. Most online companies won’t do that. If you need something right away, they can’t accommodate you.”

The shoes Mills left to fill are big, but Urso says he’s up to the challenge. Both commented on how similar their passion is for community sports and family.

“In today’s world, with a million things to do, it would be one less thing they should worry about,” Urso said. “Whatever we communicate and agree upon, that’s what will be delivered.”

Despite Mills’ age, the next steps for him still involve helping out at the store — at least for awhile.

“My wife wants to pay him for me to stay down there,” Mills joked. “She doesn’t know what to do with me.”

But, with more free time, he’ll do what he’s been doing for years: going to his family’s sports games.

He might even take his wife on a trip now that his store of 56 years is in good hands.