William Willard McMillan (January 29, 1929 – June 6, 2000) was a world-class 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.

Biography

McMillan was born in Frostburg, Maryland. He attended Turtle Creek High School in Pennsylvania. 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.

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. 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. In his career, he set two world shooting records. In 1994, USA Shooting inducted him into the USA Shooting Hall of Fame.

Military service

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. From 1974 to 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 McMillan Trophy for sports shooting in his honor.

Military awards