William Danforth MULLIKEN

Inspired by a motivational talk he heard from Olympic pole vaulting gold medalist Bob Richards, Bill Mulliken vowed he would win a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. After winning gold at the 1959 Pan American Games, Mulliken did just that by winning the 200 metre breaststroke at the 1960 Roma Games. Mulliken, who attended Miami (Ohio), won his only major domestic championship in 1960 at the AAU indoor meet when he took the 220 y breaststroke title. Mulliken graduated from Miami University in 1961 and then received a law degree from Harvard, practicing law in Chicago for his career.