1960s-1970s
Clifton "Cliff” Cushman, 1960
Clifton Emmett “Cliff” Cushman was an Olympic Silver Medalist for 400 meters Hurdles at 1960 Olympics Games, Rome Italy. He finished with a career best of 49.6, beating out Dick Howard, who had beaten him at the trials. Cliff set his goals on the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. He failed to make the 1964 Olympic team when he fell on the fifth hurdle at the Olympic Trials.
Cushman went on to serve in the Vietnam War. September 20, 1966, his plane was shot down. Capt. Clifton E. Cushman, 28, was declared MIA. His body was never found, and he was declared dead in 1975. Cliff left behind his wife, Carolyn Cushman and his son, Colin Cushman.
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William “Bill” Nieder, 1960
William Henry “Bill” Nieder competed in Shot Put, in the 1956 Olympics, winning a Silver medal. In 1960, he placed 4th in the Olympic trials. He could compete in the 1960 Games after Dave Davis dropped out due to injury.
Nieder got the Gold, setting a new Olympic record when he improved his distance by 5 feet from his mark in the 1956 Games. Nieder’s career took him to 3M, where he was instrumental in developing artificial athletic turf. His first sale of the artificial turf was to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. Such tracks are now standard at all major track meets.
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1964 Olympics Tokyo, Japan
The summer Olympic Games in Toyko would not start until October. These Games are highly significant to Japan. They were showing the world their recovery from defeat in WWII and showed the world building their astonishing growth as an international economic power. Prior to the games starting, in August the Interational Olympic committee bans South Africa from Tokyo games due to South African teams being segregated.
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William “Billy” Mills, 1964
William Mervin “Billy” Mills is also known by his name Oglala Lakota name, Tamakhoche Thehila, which means “love his country” or “respects the earth.” Mills went to Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, then attended University of Kansas. He graduated from KU in 1962 with a degree in physical education. He joined the US Marine Corps. Mills was a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve when he competed in the 1964 Olympic Games.
Mills won Gold the in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Olympic Games in a major upset victory. The then unknown track star became the first American to win Gold in the 10,000 meters. He was the first non-European athlete to win in this event and remains the only winner from the Americas.
Mills later became active in Indian affairs. In 1983, a film was made by a Canadian First Nation tribe. An American film, Running Brave, also was depicting his life story. Mills authored a book, Wokini: A Lakota Journey of Happiness and Understanding, which has had multiple printings. He served as the national spokesperson for the Running Strong for American Indian Youth organization.
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Alfred “Al” Oerter, Jr., 1960, 1964, 1968
Alfred Adolph “Al” Oerter, Jr. competed in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympics. From 1960 – 1968, Al Oerter has the longest streak competing in four consecutive Olympic Games. Al won Gold at the discus throw in Melbourne in 1956. When Oerter arrives in Rome, Italy, he brings home his second gold medal. He will go on to win two more Gold medals in 1964 and 1968 despite an injury to his neck and ribs. Oerter was the first track and field athlete to win four successive Olympic titles. Only Carl Lewis will attain this title in the Long Jump.
Oerter retires from competition in 1968. In 1977, he begins competing full time focusing on a comeback in 1980 to win a fifth Gold Medal. However, his comeback was derailed with the US boycott of the Games. While Al never competed in the Olympics after 1968, he attended future Olympics. In the 1980 Winter Games and the 1984 Summer Games, Al was the Olympic Flag bearer. In 1996, Oerter was the Olympic torch bearer in the Opening Ceremony.
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Joseph “Jo Jo” White, 1968
Joseph Henry “Jo Jo” White started playing basketball when he was six years old. He was nicknamed Jo Jo by his high school coach and the name just stuck. White’s reaction after they took home the Gold: “Going into the Olympic Games we were not the overwhelming favorites to win the gold medal. We were not even considered the strongest team in the tournament. That billing went to the Russians, who were upset by Yugoslavia in the semifinals. But we were the more determined team, and I think that is what set us apart.”
In 1969, White was drafted in the NBA by the Boston Celtics. He would play for ten seasons with the Celtics. Jo Jo would set a Celtics record playing 488 consecutive games. In 1982, White’s no. 10 jersey was retired. White would go on to play for the Golden State Warriors and the Kansas City Kings, retiring in 1981. He returned to KU to be the assistant coach from 1982-1983.