Wills, Louis C., (Louis Charles), 1884-1975

Louis Charles Wills (1884-1975), was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. In his youth, he was involved in amateur theater and published an amateur fiction magazine with his older brother, Anthony E. Wills (1879-1912), who later became a playwright, novelist, and actor. At his family's urging, Wills attended the Brooklyn Law School of Saint Lawrence University, to which he was admitted in 1903 as a member of the school's third graduating class. He was admitted to the bar in 1906 and joined the law firm Fisher & Voltz, led by George H. Fisher and Charles W. Voltz, after Fisher's death in 1910. Formerly located at 99 Broadway in Brooklyn, Fisher & Voltz had relocated to 84 Broadway, the site of the Manufacturers National Bank Building, in 1896. Though the firm dissolved after Voltz's death in 1913, Wills continued to practice law independently at 84 Broadway until 1920, when he relocated to the Chamber of Commerce Building at 32 Court Street. He moved offices again to 26 Court Street in 1926. In 1968 he joined the firm Wrenn & Schmid, remaining at 26 Court Street. Wills specialized in estates in his law practice. At the time of his death, he resided at the Hotel Bossert at 98 Montague Street with his wife, Lillian.

Aside from his career as a lawyer, Wills was actively involved in the Brooklyn community, serving in prominent positions for several civic, cultural, charitable, religious, and business organizations. His various positions included Trustee and Vice-President of the New-York Historical Society; member of the board of the Industrial Home for the Blind; member of the Advisory Board of the Manufacturers Trust Company; Officer, Director, and President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity; Chairman of the Board for the Brooklyn Home for Children; member of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army; Director of the American Red Cross; Treasurer of the Protestant Council and the Brooklyn Church and Mission Federation; member of the Protestant Committee for Religious Education; member of the Booth Dramatic Society; Treasurer of the Kings County Republican Committee; Chairman of the Long Island Tercentenary Celebration; and Director of the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital, among several others. In 1937, Wills was awarded the Downtown Brooklyn Association's Gold Medal for Most Distinguished Service for Brooklyn. The Long Island Historical Society (now the Brooklyn Historical Society) also held a memorabilia exhibit in honor of Wills's work for the Brooklyn community in 1974.