I have known BILLY MILLS for years and he is the godfather of my oldest son. I count him among my closest friends, and whenever I'm in town, I stay at his home.
On the second floor of Billy's home is a beautiful library/museum. I am always struck as I stare at the items in it: the beaded artwork, six full Indian headdresses adorned with eagle feathers, assorted handmade vases received as gifts. All of the items are of museum quality but, as I glance though the glass cabinets, I always find my eyes traveling to the item that most captures my imagination. It is the gold medal he won the year before I was born.
For those of you who don't know, Billy was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Pine Ridge was and is still a place of abject poverty; a place where hopes and dreams seldom come true. He was orphaned by the age of 12 and, because he was part Indian and part white, he was called "mixed blood" by others on the reservation. He took up running to escape the pain and emptiness he felt inside. As he once put it, "I was a mixed blood and an orphan. You couldn't get much lonelier than that."
Excelling at running, Billy received a scholarship to the University of Kansas but found himself still battling for acceptance with students, faculty, and even with his own teammates and coach. After his last race in college, Billy walked off the track never expecting to run again.
Upon graduation, Billy got married, and took a commission in the United States Marine Corps. He started running again, but this time he ran to find his own identity.
In 1964, Billy made the Olympic Team in the 10,000 meter run. Three weeks before the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Billy neatly penned his goal for the race in his journal: "GOLD MEDAL."
It has been called one of the greatest upsets in Olympic track and field history, and for good reason. Billy Mills was so unknown that the U.S. Olympic Committee at first refused to give him shoes for the race. "We only have enough for those we expect to do well;" they'd told him. Wearing borrowed shoes, Billy Mills stunned the world with his amazing come-from-behind finish to become the first and (still) only American to win this event in the Modern Olympiad.
On his final lap of the 10,000 meter run, Billy was shoved twice and nearly lost his balance. Confident in his sprint, billy made his final charge and passed the leaders to cross the tape with his arms raised in victory.
Ironically, an official approached him after the race and asked the question -"Who are you?" Billy had been running in search of that answer his whole life, and now, for the first time, he finally knew the answer.
Billy has been happily married for over 35 years and has raised three wonderful daughters. He's set both World and American records, but if you ask him how he wants to be remembered he'll tell you as a man who helped those in need.
As a result, Billy travels throughout the country to inspire Indian youth with his powerful motivational message. Explaining we all need to belong, he teaches them how to pursue their dreams. He listens to their stories and provides inspiration.
Billy also serves as national spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a division of Christian Relief Services. Running Strong's mission is to help American Indian people meet their immediate survival needs -food, clothing, water and shelter - while implementing programs to support self-sufficiency and self-esteem, especially for tribal youth.
Since its inception 12 years ago, Running Strong has raised $34,000,000 in cash and in-kind donations. Much of this money is used for food, medicine and clothing on reservations across the country. On the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Sioux reservations alone, $269,000 in new winter clothing and $429,000 in food was donated in 1996. Each year, on numerous reservations, Running Strong donates needed antibiotics and medical equipment, drills and maintains water wells for fresh drinking water and provides turkeys for Thanksgiving. Because diabetes occurs in Native Americans at a rate that is 42% higher then the general population, Running Strong has funded two dialysis clinics in Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge with plans for a third underway.
Aside from Billy's fund-raising program, I have personally witnessed Billy help strangers who call on him and I've met the families he has invited to stay at his home. Billy has never asked to be repaid, but ask instead that they help the next person who needs it. In his mind, he's simply doing the right thing. As he explained it once to me, "In the end, we're all connected anyway."
I hope this has given you some insight into the king of man that he is. I know that I want to follow his example as a Humanitarian.
By Nicholas Sparks
Author
Return to Home Page