RIP Betty Willis

Question

So who the he11 is Betty Willis and why should I care?

Born Betty Whitehead in 1923 at her family's Overton home, about 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Willis was a native of Southern Nevada. Her family moved to Las Vegas about two weeks after her birth. Her father was the first assessor of Clark County.

In 1942, at age 19, Betty attended art school in Los Angeles. She thought she had a talent for drawing and sketching. Few can disagree that she designed one masterpiece. And it is arguably the most recognized welcome sign in the world.

The “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign was completed in 1959. Fifty years later, in 2009, the National Park Service added the welcome sign to the National Register of Historic Places.

Betty never trademarked her work, saying it was her gift to the city. This has allowed it to be put on everything from T-shirts to mugs to tiny lighted replicas of the sign. No, she never made any money from that sign. Not one penny.

And now you know the rest of the story.

https://kvvu.images.worldnow.com/images/7515789_G.jpg

RIP Betty Willis 4-19-2015.

TheGoldenGoose · Answer

So who the he11 is Betty Willis and why should I care?

Born Betty Whitehead in 1923 at her family's Overton home, about 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Willis was a native of Southern Nevada. Her family moved to Las Vegas about two weeks after her birth. Her father was the first assessor of Clark County.

In 1942, at age 19, Betty attended art school in Los Angeles. She thought she had a talent for drawing and sketching. Few can disagree that she designed one masterpiece. And it is arguably the most recognized welcome sign in the world.

The “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign was completed in 1959. Fifty years later, in 2009, the National Park Service added the welcome sign to the National Register of Historic Places.

Betty never trademarked her work, saying it was her gift to the city. This has allowed it to be put on everything from T-shirts to mugs to tiny lighted replicas of the sign. No, she never made any money from that sign. Not one penny.

And now you know the rest of the story.

https://kvvu.images.worldnow.com/images/7515789_G.jpg

RIP Betty Willis 4-19-2015.

GimmeMoneyNow · Answer

Ahhhh, like moths to a flame, the Mecca of all degenerate gamblers.

BIGfnPOO · Answer

rip. thank you.

Getty3 · Answer

I still have a plastic replica of that sign that lights up when you plug it in. I love it, and for that I&#x27;m grateful to Betty and her generosity.

searchwarrant · Answer

Impressive woman. Thanks for the story on her.

RIP Betty Willis

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