Betty Willis (1923-2015) was an American graphic designer who is best known for designing the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, which has become a symbol of the city of Las Vegas.
Willis was born in Overton, Nevada, and grew up in Las Vegas. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where she studied fine art and commercial art. After graduation, she worked as a commercial artist in Los Angeles for several years before returning to Las Vegas in the early 1950s.
In 1959, the Clark County Commission approached Willis with a request to design a sign that would welcome visitors to Las Vegas. Willis came up with the design for the now-famous sign, which features a stylized cowboy and the words “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” in bold letters.
Willis never trademarked the design, which has since been widely reproduced on T-shirts, mugs, and other souvenirs. However, she continued to work as a graphic designer in Las Vegas for many years, creating logos and designs for various businesses and organizations.
Willis died in 2015 at the age of 91. Her legacy lives on through the iconic sign she designed, which remains a beloved symbol of Las Vegas and an important piece of American design history.
WHO AM I
I am Richard Lloyd Evans, a travel writer, retired history teacher and a private tour guide offering iconic tours in and around the Las Vegas area. I am a member in good standing of the Las Vegas Tourist Guide Guild and recently was named Best Local Tour Guide by the Las Vegas Visitor Guide 2023.
The Vagabond Horizon 