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Charles (Garry) Betty
Encyclopedia
Charles Garrett "Garry" Betty (4 March 1957 – 2 January 2007) was President and CEO of EarthLink
, a large American Internet service provider
, from 1996 until his death. During his leadership of EarthLink, Betty grew the customer base from just under 100,000 members to over 5 million.
Betty was born in Huntsville, Alabama
and grew up in Columbus, Georgia
. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
in Atlanta, Georgia
where he received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
in 1979. After that he worked for IBM
, and received the IBM President's award in 1982 for his work on the original IBM PC. Betty subsequently became president and CEO of Digital Communications Associates and for some time he was the New York Stock Exchange
's youngest listed CEO. Betty also received Young Alumnus of the Year honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1993 and was inducted into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame in 2005.
EarthLink reported in a press release on 21 November 2006 (also reported by major news agencies like the Wall Street Journal) that Betty had been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer which required him to take an undetermined leave of absence. The company announced that the Board of Directors
named Mike Lunsford
, Vice-President of Voice and Access, as interim CEO. EarthLink announced on 3 January 2007 that Betty had died at the age of 49 from complications of adrenal cortical cancer
.
Prior to his death, Betty set up The Garry Betty Foundation, a non-profit organization
dedicated to funding research into the genetic mutations that may lead to cancer.
EarthLink
EarthLink , is an Internet service provider headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It claims 1.94 million subscribers.- Business :EarthLink provides a variety of Internet connection types, including dial-up, DSL, satellite, and cable. Both dial-up and high speed Internet access are available...
, a large American Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
, from 1996 until his death. During his leadership of EarthLink, Betty grew the customer base from just under 100,000 members to over 5 million.
Betty was born in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
and grew up in Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
where he received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
in 1979. After that he worked for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, and received the IBM President's award in 1982 for his work on the original IBM PC. Betty subsequently became president and CEO of Digital Communications Associates and for some time he was the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
's youngest listed CEO. Betty also received Young Alumnus of the Year honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1993 and was inducted into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame in 2005.
EarthLink reported in a press release on 21 November 2006 (also reported by major news agencies like the Wall Street Journal) that Betty had been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer which required him to take an undetermined leave of absence. The company announced that the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
named Mike Lunsford
Mike Lunsford
Mike Lunsford is the interim CEO at RealNetworks, Inc. He joined the company in 2008. In his role, he oversees RealNetworks' core business, including RealPlayer, SuperPass, Software as a Service, Intercarrier Messaging, and Helix....
, Vice-President of Voice and Access, as interim CEO. EarthLink announced on 3 January 2007 that Betty had died at the age of 49 from complications of adrenal cortical cancer
Adrenocortical carcinoma
Adrenocortical carcinoma, also adrenal cortical carcinoma and adrenal cortex cancer, is an aggressive cancer originating in the cortex of the adrenal gland. Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor, with incidence of 1-2 per million population annually...
.
Prior to his death, Betty set up The Garry Betty Foundation, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to funding research into the genetic mutations that may lead to cancer.