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What did Billy Mills do?

What did Billy Mills do?

Billy Mills, byname of William Mervin Mills, (born June 30, 1938, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, U.S.), athlete who was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000-metre race, achieving a dramatic upset victory at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Is Billy Mills Native American?

Billy Mills was born on June 30, 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He is Oglala Lakota (Sioux) and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

What tribe is Billy Mills?

A member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, Mills grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in remote southwest South Dakota.

Who is Billy Mill?

William Mervin Mills (born June 30, 1938), also known as Tamakoce Te’Hila, is an Oglala Lakota former track and field athlete who won a gold medal in the 10,000 meter run (6.2 mi) at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. A United States Marine, Mills is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Who is Billy Mills wife?

Pat Millsm. 1962
Billy Mills/Wife
On race day, Mills had the strength and the finishing kick, coming from behind to dramatically claim gold. As Billy and his wife Pat celebrated, they knew right then that they needed to use this victory to help give back. (One week later, Mills finished 14th in the marathon.)

What is Billy Mills today?

Today, Billy Mills, age 81, lives in Sacramento with Pat. They’ve been married 58 years.

Did Billy Mills serve in Vietnam?

Although he was never sent to Vietnam because of his rigorous training schedule in the Marines, Mills was deeply affected by the many combat deaths of men from his unit. He felt that he could not participate in a sport when people were being killed in Vietnam.

Who are Billy Mills parents?

William Mervin Mills (Oglala Lakota) was born in 1938 in Pine Ridge, S.D. His mother, Grace, was non-Indian and his father, Sydney Thomas Mills, was a tribal member.

What school did Billy Mills go to?

Haskell Indian Nations University
University of Kansas
Billy Mills/Education
Billy Mills is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Mills attended Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas. He attended KU on an athletic scholarship and was a three-time NCAA All-American cross-country runner.

What happened to Billy Mills parents?

Billy Mills was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, located inside South Dakota. He lived the generational poverty familiar to all on Pine Ridge. His mother died when he was 8. His father died when he was 12.