Betty Thatcher Oros (born Elizabeth Anna Thatcher, April 18, 1917, Elyria, Ohio [1] – August 19, 2001) was an American automobile designer.
Education
Betty Thatcher Oros graduated from Elyria High School in 1935. She attended the Cleveland School of Arts, today’s Cleveland Institute of Art. [1] She majored in Industrial Design, graduating with honors.
Work at Hudson
Hudson Motor Company was among the first automotive companies to employ women designers full-time. [2] They wanted a woman to contribute a female point of view to automotive design, hired Oros as the first female American automotive designer [1] [3] in 1939.
Oros designed the 1939 Hudson Big Boy truck that was based on the Hudson Commodore sedan, but "turned it into a beautifully streamlined pickup." [4] Her contributions to the 1941 Hudson included exterior trim with side lighting, interior instrument panel, interiors, and interior trim fabrics. [1] [5]
Resignation
Oros designed for Hudson Motor Co. from 1939 into 1941, when she and Joe Oros were married. [1] As Joe Oros was working in the Cadillac Studio at GM, Betty resigned from Hudson to avoid a conflict of interest.
The Oroses had five children, Joe III, Christina, Janet, Mary, and John. She later served on the Santa Barbara Museum Board and Symphony League Board. Betty Thatcher Oros died on August 19, 2001.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary Elizabeth Anna Thatcher Oros (Betty)". biserica.org.
- ^ "The First Ladies of Automotive Design". MotorCities. September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ "Collection in Action - H". Franschhoek Motor Museum, South Africa.
- ^ Pundir, Arun Singh (November 5, 2019). "10 Best Classic American Trucks". HotCars. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Litwin, Matt (October 2013). "1941 Hudson Commodore Eight Aiming upscale on the wave of 1940's success". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- Oros, Joseph; Oros, Betty Thatcher (July 27, 2021). "Joseph Oros and Betty Thatcher Oros Interview Audio - Part 5 (April 17, 1985)". The Henry Ford. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- la Vache, Louis (April 10, 2018). "Gear Head Tuesday – Automotive Designer Helene Rother". '56 Packard Man. Retrieved November 15, 2022.