From left, are Billy Mills, Patricia Mills, and Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. Photo provided by WCS.

Press Release

WARSAW — On Friday, Sept. 16, Warsaw Community Schools welcomed keynote speaker Billy Mills to support the goals of WCS’s mission of inspiring and equipping all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others.

Mills is Oglala Lakota (Sioux) and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Surrounded by poverty and orphaned at the age of 12, he started running to channel his energy into something positive. In high school, his gift for running became more apparent as he set records in numerous track events.

At the 1964 Olympics, he shocked the world and came from behind to win the gold medal in the 10,000-meter race. At the time, he set a world record of 28 minutes, 24.4 seconds and is still the only American to ever win a gold medal in the 10K event. His win was an upset that has been called the second greatest moment in Olympic history.

As part of his effort to give back to his community, Mills helped found Running Strong for American Indian Youth and became the organization’s national spokesperson.

Mills’ message applying life skills, pursuing dreams, and enriching lives was delivered to an audience of fifth grade students in the Performing Arts Center, followed by a Q&A with WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. Afterward, Mills had lunch with boys’ and girls’ cross-country runners before speaking to Warsaw Community High School and Grace College athletes in the Tiger Recreation and Activity Center.

Mills’ wife, Patricia Mills, is a talented painter of western art and the owner of Studio Tupos. She was the guest speaker for two advanced art classes. She led the group in a presentation on Edward Curtis, photographer of Native Americans in the early 1900s, and taught a watercolor lesson.