Lloyd Arneach

Billy Mills, Olympic Champion

Lloyd is a full-blooded Cherokee who begins his story by illustrating that English is not the original American language. He tells a personal story about Billy Mills, a Lakota Indian who won a gold medal in the 1964 Olympic games for the U.S. track team. He still holds the Olympic record for the 10,000 meter run. Lloyd uses this story to illustrate his vision of a true champion - someone who is warm and caring on and off of media cameras. Use this clip to discuss the importance of personal stories with students.

Born and raised on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina, Lloyd Aernach first learned legends from his storytelling uncles. Lloyd has written a children's book, The Animals' Ballgame, and has spent his life collecting and sharing stories. He mixes personal stories with traditional ones to leave students with a better understanding of Native American culture and cultural inclusiveness. He can be contacted through Young Audiences of Atlanta, P.O. Box 54226, Atlanta, GA 30308; tel. 404-589-0644.


Eric Letwin | Tersi Bendiburg | Lloyd Arneach | Sherry Norfolk | Connie Regan-Blake | Bobby Norfolk