Oh wow, I remember this guy. Him and Jim Ryun who I practically worshipped when I was in High school. Man oh man, the hours I trained trying to get down to even break a 5 minute mile, and this guy Ryun was doing under 4, the first High schooler to do so. I believe he’s in politics now. These guys were my idols in the 1970s from Jr. High to High school. I believe Robby Bensen (remember him) even did a movie about Billy. Those were the days, I remember after ever race I use to dry heave, puke with no puke coming out, it was crazy, I use to run on borderline heart attack level. I couldn’t understand how these guys could run so much faster.
Here are some good articles about Ryan: http://www.kansas.com/news/article1145253.html
He didn’t run the mile until his sophomore year in high school. Read somewhere that he never ran over 4:20 in competition. Apparently didn’t know how to run slow.