Heavens to Betsy

Famous Betsy #1: Betsy RossElizabeth (Betsy) Griscom was number eight of seventeen children (talk about a lot of brothers and sisters). After finishing school at a Quaker public school, she was apprenticed to an upholsterer. While there, she fell madly in love with her fellow apprentice, John Ross. John belonged to a different church (what a scandal) and so the couple eloped. Because of this, Betsy was disowned from her family and kicked out of the Quaker congregation. During the Revolutionary War, John joined the militia was was killed when the ammunition storehouse he was guarding exploded. Betsy continued to support the war effort in many ways, but is best remembered for her flag making. History still cannot tell if she was actually commissioned to make the first flag or not. Betsy married twice more, once to Joseph Ashburn, once to John Claypoole, but the last name that stuck in the history books was Ross.

Famous Betsy #2: Betsy Clifford

Betsy Clifford (born October 15, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a retired Canadian alpine skier.
At the 1968 Winter Olympics, she was the youngest Canadian skier ever to compete. She finished 7th at the 1970 Alpine Skiing World Cup and 10th at the 1971 Alpine Skiing World Cup. In 1971, she won the Alpine skiing World Cup in slalom skiing. In 1970, she was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and in 1971, she was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

Famous Betsy #3: Betsy-TacyThe Betsy-Tacy series is a collection of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace between 1940 and 1955. They follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her friends and family from the time that Betsy turns five until she is in her early twenties. I actually read this book when I was in about third grade, but I only read the first one.

Famous Betsy #4: Kevin Eddie Lewis Betsy

Kevin Eddie Lewis Betsy is an English professional football midfielder, currently playing for Southend United. In April 2006, Betsy was honoured by his fellow professionals by being named in the Professional Footballers's Association (PFA) "Team Of The Year" for League Two.

Famous Betsy #5: Hurricane Betsy

Hurricane Betsy was a powerful hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy made its most intense landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing significant flooding of the waters of Lake Pontchartrainm into New Orleans. At the time it was the costliest hurricane in the history of the United States, and, as the first hurricane to cause over a billion dollars in damage (1965 dollars), earned the nickname "Billion-Dollar Betsy".

Famous Betsy #6: Betsy McLaughlin

Betsy McLaughlin is the current CEO of Hot Topic, Inc. During McLaughlin's time with Hot Topic, the corporation made "Fortune's 100 Best Places to Work in America" list. In 2001, McLaughlin founded the second Hot Topic division called "Torrid", a plus size chain for young women. McLaughlin has received a number of awards for her unique "think outside the box" approach to management, specifically the recruiting and training of a primarily young work force to manage brick and mortar locations.

Famous Betsy #7: Betsy Bobbin

Betsy Bobbin is a character in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. She first appears in Tik-Tok of Oz, wherein she teams up with Shaggy Man and together they go to the Nome King's Caverns. In later books, she, Dorothy and Trot are constant companions and allies of Ozma.
Although created as a new character, Betsy has a great deal in common with Dorothy. For example, Dorothy, who is from Kansas, washed up onto the shores of Ev with a chicken named Billina, and Betsy, who is from Oklahoma, arrives in a similar manner with a mule named Hank. Both girls are headstrong and courageous. Strangely, more than one of the Oz books start or end with the people of Oz celebrating Betsy's birthday.

Famous Betsy #8: Betsy the White fronted Capuchin Monkey

Betsy the White-fronted Capuchin Monkey is the protagonist that is believed to have triggered the epidemic of the film Outbreak starring Dustin Hoffman.

Famous Betsy #9: Betsy McCall

A series of paper dolls, Betsy McCall was announced in April of 1951 and first appeared on the pages of McCall's magazine in May, 1951. Nosy, her six-month old dachshund, is seen with her in that first issue. The next month, June of 51, she is joined by her mother, Mrs. McCall (no first name known), her father, Mr. James McCall appeared in July and and Cousin Barbara, who is Betsy's age, followed in August. Through the years other various siblings, cousins, friends and pets became a part of her adventures.

Famous Betsy #10: Betsy Thordis Hansen

Elizabeth (Betsy) Thordis Hansen is my wonderful new niece. She was born Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:43 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches. I won't officially get to meet her until the second week of June when both the Hansen and Kelsey families are going to make their summer pilgrimage to Utah, but I've already heard all sort of wonderful stories about this sweet little baby girl. Betsy, I'm so glad you're a part of our family!!!