[3] He was born on Cape Breton Island, Canada, but moved to New York as a teenager to join his brother.

"[4] In 1906, Gillis was the National Amateur Athletic Union junior champion hammer thrower, with a throw of 161 feet and 8 inches (49.28 m).

Prior to the 1908 Summer Olympic Games, Gillis won the English amateur championship with the 16 lb.

On his return to New York, he worked for Thomas Edison, creating screen titles for silent movies and even made a few film appearances.

He then headed West, eventually settling in Phoenix, where he and his wife Bridget ran a rooming house during the Depression.