Billy Mills was born on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Orphaned at the age of 12, he attended Haskell Indian boarding school in Lawrence, Kansas, and began running in order to train for boxing. He developed a love for running and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. A scholarship to the University of Kansas in 1959 gave Mills an opportunity to leave the reservation and pursue the thing he loved most. Running while in college, he suffered feelings of alienation and low self-esteem brought n by being alone in a white world. As a result, he performed below his potential. In a state of emotional disarray, and recognizing that he must put his life together, Billy accepted a commission as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. It was in the Marine Corps recognizing Billy’s talents and rich heritage that empowered his sense of self-worth. His competitive and winning spirit was restored. The discipline and focus he learned in the Marines changed the course of his life. Through the acceptance by his peers and the camaraderie he encountered, Billy Mills learned he “belonged.” Over the next two years, he increased his weekly mileage from 30 to 100 miles per week. Basic training, plus an excellent track and field program, helped Mills qualify for the 1964 Olympic Games in two events: the 10,000 meters and the marathon. Prior to the 1964 Olympics, no American had ever won the Gold Medal in the 10,000 meters. Billy overcame the odds and won the Gold Medal in the 10, 000 Meter Run. His victory is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, and some have stated that his performance in Tokyo was the greatest achievement in modern times. “Your life is a gift from the Creator. Your gift back to the Creator is what you do with your life.” ----Billy Mills |
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