Turtle Creek To Honor Marie Captain McMillan
Churchill Country Club Dinner Slated Oct. 1st by Local Groups
Turtle Creek's civic and veteran's organizations, in addition to businessmen, school and borough officials, will pay tribute on Wednesday, October 1st to the World's Pistol Shooting Champion, Marine Captain William Willard McMillan Jr. of Turtle Creek, who recently arrived from Moscow, Russia where the tournament was held.
The "Captain McMillan Day" will be celebrated next Wednesday evening, beginning at 6:30, in the Churchill Country club, where prominent guests of honor, including Capt. McMillan and his family, will attend.
Capt. McMillan left for Washington, D. C. yesterday (Tuesday) to receive a commendation and award from the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General McCall Pate, in ceremonies held at 2:30 p.m. in the Marine Corps headquarters there. A graduate of Turtle Creek High School's Class of 1946, "Bill" entered the Marine Corps in July, 1946. With almost 12 years of service behind him, the 29-year-old officer plans to make it a 20-year career, or like he says, "I may go for 30."
Starting with the rifle in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the local was tired of picking up shells after the shooting so he took up the shooting of the pistol in competition with other Marines. Born in Frostburg, Md., he moved here when he was two years old and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Willard McMillan Sr., still reside at 1810 James Street, Turtle Creek.
In a special interview with the news editor of The Monroeville-Turtle Creek Independent, Capt. McMillan stated while in Russia recently he received good treatment from the Russian officials on the shooting range during the tourney, but when he and his buddies were in the streets of Moscow, the people seemed to throw cold stares at them. He added that taking pictures of the people in Russian was "taboo," but one could take pictures of buildings, etc. Following his stay here in Turtle Creek visiting his family, he will depart Friday, Oct. 3, for his base in San Diego, Calif.
He is married to Mary Beth and they have a son, William Stuart, 2½. His wife was with him at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. He met his wife through her father, who also was a noted pistol shooter. Capt. McMillan also participated in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1952 International at Oslo, Norway. Entering the Marine Corps as a private in 1946, he went overseas in 1952-'53, serving in Korea and returning to the U.S. in March, 1953, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant and sent to Basic School in Quantico, Va., where he graduated.
In 1954 he went to Caracas, Venezuela, for the 36th World's Championship, winning the host match with .22 and .38 caliber pistols. He placed second in the Pan-American games in Mexico in '55 and broke the world's record for the third consecutive time at San Diego, Calif. He became the National Pistol Champion in 1957 at Camp Perry, Ohio, and World's Champion this year n Moscow, Russia.
Tickets are now on sale at various business establishments in Turtle Creek for the dinner feting Capt. McMillan next week. Mario's orchestra will offer the musical entertainment at the Churchill Country Club. Burgess L. W. (Pete) Whisner and his wife will be guests along with prominent Marine Corps officers from the district and borough officials.
The Monroeville-Turtle Creek Independent, September 24, 1958
Borough Salutes Marine Tonight
Capt. McMillan Day Proclaimed
Turtle Creek will roll out the 'welcome mat' and give the community's returning World's Pistol Shooting Champion, Marine Captain William Willard (Bill) McMillan, the plush treatment tonight (Wednesday) at the banquet in his honor at the Churchill Country Club.
Banquet festivities will get underway at 6:30 p.m. as the highlight of "Captain McMillan Day" in Turtle Creek, as proclaimed by Burgess L. W. (Pete) Whisner, who accompanied by his wife, will be one of the many guests attending. Marine Major Casmir C. Ksycewski, stationed in Pittsburgh and who resides with his family in Monroeville, will be the main speaker. He will be accomplanied by his wife.
Other speakers will include two other district marine officers, Major Luther Reddy and Captain Earl Elstner. Prominent civic borough and school officials will also be among the guests in attendance.
Mario's orchestra will provide the musical entertainment for the evening. Tickets may still be purchased at various business establishments throughout the borough.
Capt. McMillan, a 1946 graduate of Turtle Creek High School, will receive a Winchester rifle with telescopic sight at the dinner.
He entered the Marine Corps upon his graduation from high school and commissioned from the ranks.
The Monroeville-Turtle Creek Independant, October 1, 1958
Winchester Rifle Model 70 Serial Number 431535 with Weaver Telescopic Sight
