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image: Billy Mills

Billy Mills

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Inducted: 1997
Induction Class: Billy Mills (Track & Field), Kevin Johnson (Basketball), Mel Blount (Football)
Sport: Olympic Games (Athletics)
Years Active: 1964
Born: June 30, 1938
Birthplace: Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Community Focus: Children & Youth
Foundation: American Indian Youth Foundation

Billy Mills, Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000 meter run and only American ever to win the Olympic gold in the event and advocate of the preservation of Native American Culture among tribal youth, was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1997, which included basketball great Kevin Johnson, and football star Melvin Blount.

William “Billy” Millsgrew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He attended the University of Kansas on a track scholarship and earned three NCAA All-American track and field titles. After a stint with the U.S. Marine Corps, Mills returned to running and qualified for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he became (and remains today) the only American ever to take gold in the 10,000 meter run. Mills was inducted into U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame, the Olympic Hall of Fame, and the Distance Running Hall of Fame.

Today Billy Mills acts as the national Spokesman for the Running Strong for American Indian Youth Foundation, an organization which works towards the growth and preservation of the Native American culture.