Betty Boyd

Betty Carman Boyd (December 9, 1924 – January 6, 2011) was a longtime Tulsa television personality and a member of the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. Considered a pioneer for women in both fields, Boyd began her career in television in 1955 and was elected as a state legislator in 1990, serving until 2000.

Early life Betty Boyd was born in 1924 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Ted and Marie (Fairchild) Carman. Boyd was raised by her mother, grandmother, and several maiden aunts. Her interest in reading and writing began early in life. When asked about her interests, Boyd said "I wanted to write. I knew that. I loved journalism when I got to that point in school. In junior high, we had a junior high school paper at that time and I loved writing for that, that kind of writing, not books although I’ve done that some since.” She graduated from Tulsa Central High School where she served as the yearbook editor.

Education Boyd attended the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She double majored in home economics and journalism. While in college she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. In 1980 Boyd left KTUL to serve as the director of information for Tulsa Vo-Tech (now Tulsa Technology Center) where she became involved with radio and television commercials. In 1983, Betty published a book discussing Tulsa television, radio, and print personalities, If I Could Sing, I'd Be Dangerous.

Political career Boyd was elected to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives in 1990 and began serving in 1991 as a representative of District 23 until 2000. During her first term she served as the vice-chair of the large Education Committee and in her second term served as the chair of the Common Education Committee. Boyd started the Reading Sufficiency Act and was an integral part in starting the Teacher Preparation Commission. Betty began her term when she was 65 years old, making her the oldest member of the Oklahoma House at the time, and the first great-grandmother to serve in the House of Representatives. When asked about her age at the time of her election, Boyd stated "I was not very young but that was not a factor, you know, as long as you have the energy for it. I could still do it. As long as you have the energy for it, the interest in it and if you like people and do not mind listening to them." After her time in the House, Boyd refused to retire, and instead served on committees such as Friends of the Library, Tulsa Health Department Board, among others. In 1996, Boyd was recognized for her lifetime achievements by being inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. Two years later in 1998, Boyd received the American Women in Radio and Television Lifetime Achievement Award.

Betty Boyd's political philosophy: "...do the best you can for the people you live around and the people around the state and the people around the country and let it go at that. It does not matter which party’s name is on it."

Awards and memberships Inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame (1996) Queen of the Tulsa Centennial (1997) National Board of the March of Dimes American Women in Radio and Television Lifetime Achievement Award (1998) Tulsa Cerebral Palsy Association Delta Delta Delta sorority Defense Advisory Committee for Woman in the Service Beta Sigma Phi

Retirement memberships Following her retirement, Boyd remained active in the following organizations: Friends of the Library Tulsa Health Department Board Silver Haired Legislature Area Agency on Aging OSU Board of Trustees