USATF Foundation Ultimate Art Auction spotlights Billy Mills, American distance running legend

INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation has announced Billy Mills will be among the distance running greats that will appear on a commissioned piece of art entitled, "Running Legends: A Signature Piece," honoring 12 of the greatest living American distance runners of all time. All proceeds from the auction will benefit USA Track & Field Foundation grant programs for emerging elite athletes and youth clubs.

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In addition to Billy, the piece created by renowned artist Roald Bradstock, includes the likenesses and original signatures of Joan Benoit Samuelson, Frank Shorter, Mary Slaney, Bill Rogers, Jim Ryun, Dave Wottle, Steve Scott, Bob Schul, Alberto Salazar, Lynn Jennings and Craig Virgin.

Interested parties may bid on ebay.com beginning Friday, June 18 at 1:30 PM EST and ending on Sunday, June 27 at 1:30 PM EST, the last day of the Outdoor National Championships in Des Moines, IA. Please insert item number “130397667863” into the search box to access the auction web page.

Additionally, 25 limited edition prints (also with original signatures) will be available for purchase for $2,500. Interested parties may contact USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic at tom.jackovic@usatf.org or (412) 398-2484 for more information.

BILLY MILLS BIOGRAPHY:

Date of Birth: June 30, 1938
USATF Hall of Fame Induction: 1976

Events
5,000 Meters (13:41.40)
6 Miles (27:12)
10,000 Meters (28:17.60)
Marathon (2:22:55)

Described as the greatest upset in Olympic history, Billy Mills' victory in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Olympic Games will remain an indelible memory for anyone who saw his thrilling stretch run as he wove through a field of lapped runners and finally passed the race favorites, Rom Clarke and Mohamed Gammoudi. An Oglala Sioux Native American, Mills took up distance running while attending the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. He soon dropped his original goal of becoming a boxer and concentrated on running instead. At the University of Kansas under Hall of Fame coach Bill Easton, he was an All-American in cross country in both 1958 and 1959. After graduating from Kansas, he became a lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and finished second to Gammoudi in the 1963 interservice 10,000m run in Brussels, Belgium. The following year, he finished second to Gerry Lindgren in the 10,000 meters at the Olympic Trials. His greatest race awaited him in Tokyo. After winning the 10,000, Mills placed 14th in the Olympic marathon. The following year, Mills set a world six-mile record, running 27:11.6 in a tie with Lindgren at the AAU Nationals. Mills later became active in Native American affairs and in 1972 was named one of America's "Outstanding Young Men." A 1984 movie titled "Running Brave" was made of his life. Mills was elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984.

Records Held
World Record: 6 Miles - 27:12 (June 27, 1965)

Championships
1964 Olympics: 10,000 Meters (1st)
1964 Olympics: Marathon (14th)
1965 AAU: 6 Miles. - 27:12 (1st)

Education
High School: Haskell Institute (Lawrence, Kansas), 1957
Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas), 1962

Occupation
Public Speaking, Humanitarian and Native American Causes

The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track & field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field.

BILLY MILLS