Bob McMillen (athlete)

{{Short description|American athlete (1928–2007)}}

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File:Bob McMillen 1950.jpg

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{{MedalSport| Men's Athletics}}

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{{MedalSilver| 1952 Helsinki| 1500 metres}}

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Robert Earl McMillen (March 5, 1928 – April 1, 2007) was an American athlete, who competed mainly in the 1500 m.

While at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, McMillen won the mile and set the meet record of 4:24.0 at the CIF California State Meet in 1946.{{Cite web|url=http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm|title = California State Meet Results - 1915 to present}} While at Glendale Community College he qualified for the 1948 Summer Olympics in the Steeplechase.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gocollegetrack.com/info/Knuth%20files/04olympians01.updated%20sept%202010.pdf|title = 404页面}} Then at Occidental College he won the 1952 NCAA Championship in the 1500 meters.

Born in Los Angeles, California, McMillen competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland in the 1500 m, where he won the silver medal with a rush at the end.{{Cite web |url=http://www.glendale.edu/index.aspx?page=622 |title=Glendale Community College : Bob McMillen |access-date=December 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150814/http://www.glendale.edu/index.aspx?page=622 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=dead }} His final sprint missed catching leader Josy Barthel by a foot and a half at the line. Both athletes were given the same time, a new Olympic record.

McMillen is a 2004 inductee into the Glendale College Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Occidental College Track and Field Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxyathletics.com/halloffame/trackandfield/HOF|title = Occidental College Track and Field Hall of Fame| work=Occidental }}