As six grader in class hearing about a man named Billy Mills winning a Gold Metal in the Olympics for some reason there was a feeling of unusual pride within. Now 56 years later, understanding the bigger story. Feels like knowing a great friend without ever meeting Mr. William Mervin Mills. Thank you dear sir.
His story still brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart proud for his accomplishments as a Native American but also someone who chose to live and make his dreams come true. He has always been such an inspiration to me and my late husband who was also a Native American athlete at Haskill Indian Nations University.
I found this VHS in Blockbusters [If your remember them] in the 1980s. A runner on the cover BILLY MILLS. I though it may be a good movie. O my, good was not enough.....It was INSPIRING!!!. I did not know it ever happened, never watched the Olympics 1964. I was shedding tears like crazy. I still shed them when I watch the whole movie. Then to know he's been such a great guy in service to others and to the Native people of America. This should be a movie that all High School kids HAVE to see and then write something about it.
Billy Mills story is in my opinion THE greatest story in sports - bar none. When my son was a boy he was interested in running and participated first in soccer then in middle school then high school then collegiate running. As a boy I told him the story of Bill Mills and we watched the video. Years later I got a call from him. He had just watched Mills give a public presentation at the college my son was attending. He got to shake Mills' hand. He was very excited of that opportunity. We all need hero's to look up to. Mills is the best role model in my opinion. To this day, I think that Clark and Gamudi (spelling?) should have been dis-qualified - per the rules and on principle. PUtting your hands on another runner so that you can move them out of your way from behind is reason for disqualification. Both were out of position and would have had to at least go around two runners and then make up that difference. They might have had to slow down to do that OR remain boxed in. IN either case other runners may have benefited from their poor positions and medaled.
Billy Mills? 2 thumbs up. Tom Neiman? 2 thumbs down. Well, 1 thumb down, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he's changed as he's gotten older. He was one of several thuggies from Huron when he took up space at SDSU.
