Billie Ann Burrill (March 11, 1921 ? March 3, 2010) was a physical education and dance teacher at Rhode Island College , where she co-founded the Rhode Island College Dance Company. As the college's fencing coach, she organized the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Fencing Association. She was also a world-class competitive masters swimmer who set multiple world records, all after the age of 64. She was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2013.

Biography [ edit ]

Billie Ann Burrill was born in Joliet, Illinois . ^[1] In World War II, she served in the Women’s Army Corps (1943?47), rising from private to captain. ^{[1] [2]} When the war ended, she went to Boston University for her B.A. and Smith College for her master's degree. ^[1]

After teaching briefly at the University of Connecticut and at Connecticut College, she got a job in 1954 at Rhode Island College in the Department of Health and Physical Education, where she taught folk dance and golf. ^[1] She also coached the fencing team, a role that prompted her to organize the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Fencing Association, of which she was president for a time. ^{[1] [3]}

Burrill cofounded the Rhode Island College Dance Company and served as its director (1956?59). ^[1] She developed expertise in lighting, production, and stage management and spent seven summers at the American Dance Festival as production stage manager. ^{[1] [3]} She worked as business manager for the Paul Taylor Dance Company during it early years. ^[1]

In 1980, she retired from Rhode Island College. ^[1] Around that time, she took up swimming as therapy for arthritis pain and developed into a world-class masters swimmer , ^{[1] [4]} setting 7 world swimming records, all after the age of 64. ^[2] She won nearly 300 gold medals and set individual age-group world records in the 800-meter freestyle and the 1500-meter freestyle (age group 65-69). ^[1] The latter record remained unbroken for more than two decades. ^{[4] [2]} In 2007, aged 86, Burrill won an All-American title in the 50-yard freestyle (age group 85?89). She was inducted into both the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame and the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame. ^[1]

She died 2010 and was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2013. ^[1]

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• Billie Ann Burrill: best USMS individual swim times
• Billie Ann Burrill: USMS national relay records