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WHEREAS, Bill Betts was born on February 29, 1924 in Porto Uni?o, Brazil to Methodist missionaries. He lived in Brazil until he was twenty-one and attended a small school that his father built. Although the native language was Portuguese, he learned English when his mother spoke it in their house; and,
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WHEREAS, Bill was very active. In High School, Bill starred in track, basketball and soccer. After graduating in 1941, he planned to attend college in the United States, but admissions to colleges in the States were cancelled due to the attack on Pearl Harbor; and,
WHEREAS, Bill moved to Rio de Janeiro to begin his college career, but was drafted by the United States in 1945. He was assigned to the Navy as a supply carrier because of his language skills. After he was discharged, he moved to Ann Arbor Michigan. With the help of the GI Bill, he attended the University of Michigan majoring in metallurgical engineering and became an expert in cylindrical rollers used in rolling mills; and,
WHEREAS, while in Ann Arbor, he met and married his late wife Ann. They raised four children together. The family loved to ski together and traveled to many different resorts, and lived in many different places. When their kids were grown, Ann and Bill hit the slopes in Germany, Austria and Italy. They even went to New Zealand to helicopter ski the glaciers. Bill did not stop skiing until he was 96; and,
WHEREAS, Bill and Ann moved to Chatham Village in 1985. Bill served on the Board at Chatham Village and was its president for a term. Bill stayed very active in sports playing golf, skiing, using the track and gym; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby celebrate Bill Betts on the milestone of his 100th Birthday and thank him for his service to our country; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Thursday, February 29, 2024 to be "Bill Betts Day" in the City...
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