Betty Myers
1912-1991
Elizabeth Myers Brown, known to her friends and family as "Betty," was born in 1912. She was the middle child of Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers. Betty was seen as someone who elegantly balanced her public and private roles. She was a dedicated career woman in her work with Highlights and a nurturing mother and wife in her personal life.
Before her significant involvement with Highlights, Betty attended Cornell, where she majored in Home Economics.
Betty's life became deeply intertwined with Highlights from her thirty-first year onward. She played a vital role in the magazine's growth and success, contributing to its survival and its rise to a leading position in children's publishing.
Betty's contributions to Highlights began even before the magazine's founding. In the early 1940s, as a recent college graduate, she assisted her father with the mail generated by his daily newspaper column. She also helped with the startup of Highlights after 1946, selling subscriptions and enlisting sales representatives.
In the early 1950s, when Highlights faced financial difficulties, Betty was part of the family effort to raise capital and reorganize the business. She eventually became a member of the corporate board and held various editorial positions, including editorial assistant, assistant editor, associate editor, and senior editor.
Beyond her editorial work, Betty was known for her practical approach and her dedication to upholding the founders' philosophy.
Outside of her professional life, Betty enjoyed shopping, particularly at flea markets and antique sales. Her interest in antiques led her to start her own business, Brown's Antiques.
Betty Myers Brown passed away on May 19, 1991, in Boyds Mills, Pennsylvania. She was married to Kent Brown Sr., and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1990.
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