A fifth generation Texan, Betty has enjoyed the opportunity to serve others through her commitment to charitable work and community service both nationally and internationally. While living in London during the 1980s, Betty helped establish the Junior League of London, where she was an executive officer throughout her tenure.
Houston has benefited from the efforts of Betty’s charitable spirit since her return in 1995. She and her family established the McMillan Character Education Series at The Kinkaid School. Betty serves on the Executive Boards of: The Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine, The Huffington Center on Aging, TIRR Family, and The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. Betty founded and for five years was the President of Pony Parents, SMU’s parent leadership organization for student athletes. In 2006, she chaired The Women’s Health Summit featuring Mrs. Barbara Bush. She was a member of the 2009 Commissioning Committee for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. In 2010, Betty co-chaired the The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary “Reflections on Style” Runway Show, Luncheon and Chic Boutique. Betty co-chaired the 2013 Crystal Ball for Huffington Center’s 25th Anniversary. In 2014, she was a co-chair of “Melissa Manchester Unplugged And On A Mission” and served as President of the Board for Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine.
Betty is passionate about child literacy and for over a decade has been an annual co-chair for The Barbara Bush Foundation’s “A Celebration of Reading.” In 2015, with Maria Bush she co-founded The Ladies of Literacy, a guild which is playing an important role in advancing the mission of Mrs. Bush’s Houston Literacy Foundation—to improve lives through the power of literacy.
Betty was named a 2007 Woman of Distinction by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and was honored as a Distinguished Woman by Northwood University in 2008. At the 2009 Huffington Women’s Health Summit, she received the Spirit of Excellence Award. Betty was the 2012 Honoree of TIRR Family and TIRR Foundation’s Gala, “Connect the Docs.”
Betty and her husband, John, have been blessed with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four granddaughters.