Mills Lane goes toy shopping

Tom Gardner

Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999 | 12:20 p.m.

RENO, Nev. - Judge Mills Lane doffed his black robe on Thursday to go toy shopping for needy kids.

Lane, flanked by four Marines pushing shopping carts, loaded up on dolls, action figures, costume jewelry, purses, hair gel and assorted other Christmas goodies for the Toys for Tots program.

"I've always been interested in the Toys for Tots. I think it's one of the many good things the Marine Corps does. I'm happy to be involved," he said.

One of the action figures Lane grabbed was a Marine version of G.I. Joe.

Sgt. Fred Zeyer, one of the Marines from the Fourth Force Reconnaissance Division at nearby Stead, said the program was begun 52 years ago by a Marine Reservist major in Los Angeles who couldn't find an organization to take a Raggedy Ann doll he wanted to donate.

Lane, who was a judge in Reno and served in the Marine Corps, said the producers of his syndicated "Judge Mills Lane" television show came up with the idea of donating money to the Toys for Tots program.

They came up with $300 to spend, but said he could go a little over. The bill came to $315.13.

"This is the time of year when folks want to be able to help other folks, to make their lives a little better," he said. "As always, the Marines were ready so we came down here and got it on."

Assisted by Robin Borba, guest services manager for Toys R Us, Lane made quick work of his shopping trip, grabbing items on the fly in a 15-minute foray through the store.

Some of the choices were unusual. Attracted to figures of pro wrestlers, the former boxing referee opted for one of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, possibly not realizing it contained a room motion detector.

His one pause came to shake hands with a shopper who congratulated him for the good he was doing.

"The Marines done good," he replied. "I'm just following orders here."