William McMillan

Who was William McMillan?

William Willard McMillan was a world-class American sports shooter. 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.

He also 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. In his career, he set two world shooting records.

McMillan enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1953 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

From 1974–1981, he worked as a Weapons Training Coordinator at San Diego County, California. where he was injured in a shooting accident at the old Camp Elliot range.

In 1978, the Marine Corps established the McMillon Trophy for shooting in his honor.

In 1994, USA Shooting inducted him into the USA Shooting Hall of Fame.