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Bettina Yancey

There are many incredible stories of people overcoming great obstacles to become great. Few people have overcome the obstacles that Bettina Yancey encountered on her path to innovation. Blind since a young age, Bettina Yancey became a mother of six while working as a civilian in the United States Army. Originally from North Carolina, Yancey eventually moved to Detroit, Michigan. Through recognized hard work she advanced to become a computer programmer with the Tank and Automotive command, based in Warren, Michigan It was in her role as a computer programmer that she devised a program to do high speed processing of requisition orders for parts as well as programs to allow the ability to maintain adequate inventories at depots. For these innovations, Yancey was recognized by the Central Business District of Detroit as one of the ‘Ten Outstanding Women Who Work’ in 1967. Following the award, Yancey received recognition in Ebony Magazine as well as Performance. Bettina Yancey was a black woman from the South who also became blind. Through skill, luck and opportunity she was able to discover her talent with computer programming. Though recognized locally, the programs the Yancey developed had a huge impact on the entire US Army. And perhaps the nation, and computing, as a whole.