Betty Willis
| Betty Willis | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Betty Jane Whitehead May 20, 1923 Overton, Nevada, U.S. |
| Died | April 19, 2015 (aged 91) Overton, Nevada, U.S. |
| Occupation | Graphic designer |
| Years active | 1942–1999 |
| Known for | Designing the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign |
| Parent(s) | Stephen R. Whithead |
Betty Jane Willis (née Whitehead; May 20, 1923 – April 19, 2015) was an American visual artist and graphic designer. Born in Overton, Nevada, she is best known for having been the designer of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, and has been attributed to being an influencer in defining modern Las Vegas' visual image.
Willis born on May 20, 1923 in Overton, Nevada, the daughter of Stephen R. Whitehead, the first assessor of Clark County, Nevada, and homemaker Gertrude Meader. She went to Los Angeles in 1942 where she attended art school and drew ads for Fox West Coast Theaters. Betty returned to Las Vegas where she first took a job at the courthouse, then worked as a commercial artist before moving on to designing neon signs at Western Neon. It was there that she designed her signature piece, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, completed in 1959. Willis never trademarked the design, later saying "It's my gift to the city."
Willis is also known for designing the signs for the Moulin Rouge Hotel and the Blue Angel Motel. She continued designing signs until she retired at the age of 77. She died at the age of 91 at her home in Overton in 2015.
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