William McMillan (sport shooter)
American sport shooter
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William Willard McMillan (January 29, 1929 – June 6, 2000) was an American sport shooter. Competing in ISSF 25 meter rapid fire pistol, he won an Olympic gold medal in 1960, was part of the American winning team at the 1952 World Championships, and won several gold and silver medals at the Pan American Games between 1955 and 1979.
McMillan (left) and James Enoch Hill (right) are commended by David M. Shoup, Commandant of the Marine Corps. McMillan holds the pistol he used at the 1960 Olympics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | January 29, 1929 Frostburg, Maryland, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | June 6, 2000 (aged 71) Encinitas, California, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (201 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Shooting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | US Marine Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Biography
McMillan was born in Frostburg, Maryland.[1] He attended Turtle Creek High School in Pennsylvania.[2] His professional career began in the United States Marine Corps, with McMillan eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. After his retirement, he served as sheriff in San Diego County, California. He died in Encinitas, California, on June 6, 2000.[1]
Sport shooting
Between 1952 and 1976, he competed in the 25 m rapid fire pistol event in six Olympics, missing only the 1956 Games due to malfunctioning of his weapon during the US trials. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and competed at five other Olympic Games.[1]
McMillan won one world, five Pan American, and four national titles in the rapid fire pistol and free pistol events, as well as several silver medals at all these competitions, the last two aged 50.[1] In his career, he set two world shooting records.
In 1994, USA Shooting inducted him into the USA Shooting Hall of Fame.[3]
Military service
William Willard McMillan | |
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| Nickname | "Bill" |
| Allegiance | United States |
Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
Service years | 1946-1974 |
Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel |
Conflicts | Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards |  ![](#/media/File:Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon_with_"V"_device,_1st_award.svg){kind=small} |
| Other work | Deputy Sheriff |
McMillan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1946. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1953 and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1974. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.[citation needed]
From 1974 to 1981, he worked as a Weapons Training Coordinator at San Diego County, California,[1] where he was injured in a shooting accident at the old Camp Elliot range.
In 1978, the Marine Corps established the McMillan Trophy for sports shooting in his honor.
Military awards
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- Distinguished Pistol Shot, June 16, 1950
- Distinguished Marksman, June 3, 1954
- Distinguished International Shooter, May 23, 1963
