He faced poverty on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, was orphaned by the age of 12, developed a debilitating health condition, and struggled against extreme racism, but Billy Mills persevered against all odds by chasing a dream. In 1964, he became the first American to win Olympic Gold in the 10,000-meter event—the second Native American in history to win gold in any Track & Field event, after Jim Thorpe (1912). Billy knew then that it was time for his traditional Lakota Giveaway. He stepped off the winner’s podium and into a life of service, helping Indigenous people around the world.
√ Click to view the Select WINGS Bibliography
← See Sidebar for reviews and awards, media coverage, resources, and more about Billy Mills
South Dakota Public Broadcasting — Click to watch the recorded broadcast with Billy, Donna, and SD.
The creators of WINGS OF AN EAGLE: Billy Mills, Donna Janell Bowman, S.D. Nelson
Book chat with the illustrator also available on YouTube
📰 Media Requests
- Hannah Klein — Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette) — hannah.klein@hbgusa.com.
- Erin Murphy Literary Agency — erin@emliterary.com
- Donna Janell Bowman — donna@donnajanellbowman.com
- Billy Mills — millsgold@aol.com
🎤 Available for Speaking
- Billy and Donna are booking school visits, conference sessions, and keynotes now. Available together or individually. Contact Donna or Contact Billy
About the book creators
Billy Mills is an Olympic gold medalist, author, and cofounder of Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a nonprofit organization that supports the critical needs of Native communities. A member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Tribe, he grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation and now travels around the world inspiring audiences to embrace unity through diversity while learning from historical injustices. He lives near Sacramento, California.
Donna Janell Bowman is an award-winning author of books for young readers, including Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness and Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words. Donna holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When not writing, she enjoys speaking at schools, coaching other writers, and learning from inspiring people. She lives near Austin, Texas.
S. D. Nelson, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas, is the author and illustrator of inspiring children’s books, such as Black Elk’s Vision and Grandma’s Tipi. Honors include an American Indian Library Association award and a Spur Award from Western Writers of America. He is a cofounder of Read at Home, encouraging early literacy among Indigenous children. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona
STARRED review from The Horn Book. Excerpt: 
