A Tribute to Garry Betty

I ALSO KNEW GARY. ALTHOUGH IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS YOU COULD STILL GET A SENSE HE WAS GOING PLACES. HIS DAD WOULD TAKE US TO BASEBALL GAMES AND WE'D KEEP THE SCORE. GREAT MEMORIES. MY DAD WOULD DROP US OFF AT THE FOUR WINDS GOLF COURSE IN THE MORNING AND WE'D PLAY ALL DAY. GARY WAS A REAL COMIC BOOK COLLECTOR. SAVING HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS. HE PROBALLY STILL HAS THEM SOME WHERE. WE PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE TOGETHER. WHAT FUN THAT WAS. ALWAYS COMPETITIVE BUT A GOOD SPORTSMAN. WE LIVED CLOSE AND WOULD MEET AT HIS HOUSE TO PRACTICE AND PLAY BEFORE THE GAMES. ALTHOUGH HIS MOM AND DAD HAD SOME DISABILITIES, THEY DID A BETTER JOB THAN MOST PARENTS I GREW UP KNOWING. I AM SO TERRIBLY SORRY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR LOSS. HE WAS A DIFFERENCE MAKER, NOT JUST IN YOUR LIFE BUT IN MINE AND HE WILL BE MISSED. I HEARD OF THE NEWS IN A SMALL TOWN IN ILLINOIS AND WAS SHOCKED. GOD BLESS. GARY, SAVE ME A SPOT ON YOUR FOURSOME IN HEAVEN.MIKE LANDERS, ROUND LAKE BEACH, ILLINOIS.

Posted in From an old friend in Columbus Ga. by on Jan 14 2007

I was a PR specialist at Hayes when it introduced the industry's first 2400 baud modem (which shows how deep Garry's roots were in the telecommunications industry). I set up a press tour for major publications in NYC and Boston. To illustrate the capabilities of a 2400 baud modem, we used a monitor that was basically a slide projector in a box. (Those were the days before laptops that could actually be carried.) In Boston, I put the monitor on the wrong conveyor belt during the security check, and then watched with horror as it disappeared into a hole and then plunged onto a concrete floor. The next appointment was with BusinessWeek. Garry never criticized or even commented on my ineptitude, but instead gave one of his best presentations ever to the BusinessWeek reporter, making up in charm and technical knowledge what he lacked in visuals. BusinessWeek gave Hayes a great story as a result. Garry was a good man; he will be missed.
Nick Wreden
nick@fusionbrand.com

Posted in Hayes by on Jan 14 2007

I knew Garry from his Hayes days. We shared a chuckle once at a company golf outing at Calloway. We were riding in a golf cart together and as we came over the hill saw 2 Hayes VPs wrestling on the putting green. We looked at each other and just started laughing. No explanation needed. - I called Garry out of the blue a few years ago to meet with some associates. He was gracious, enthusiastic, and said, "Sure!" My silly associates didn't follow up. Their loss at meeting this wonderful man. Though out of his circle for a long, long time, I feel blessed to have known him. What a great man.

Julie J.

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 13 2007

I was shocked and saddened to hear the news about Gerry passing. My condolences to Kathy, his family, and Bill. I worked with Gerry at Hayes in the early days. He always had a smile and firm hand shake for everyone. My prayers are for him and his family

Tom Mammoser

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 13 2007

A friend made a comment to me last week that really resonated. “In all the years I’ve known you I have never once heard you complain about your job. And you’ll complain about just about anything, so Garry must have really been some amazing leader.” She was right, he was an amazing leader, but he was so much more. Garry was genuine, supportive, interested, compassionate, inspiring and giving. Garry was honest, true and real. Garry was the kindest human being you could ever be lucky enough to know. I’ll never forget the day I submitted a request to our EarthLink Cares committee for a donation to a cause that was important to me and not 5 minutes passed before Garry walked out of his office, personal check in hand “Hey Ragu – I hope this will help you find lots of homes for those Greyhounds.” Garry didn’t love Greyhounds, but he did love his friends and his family and he would do anything to show them. I feel truly blessed for having had Garry in my life for 6+ years. I am certainly a better person because of him. He will never be forgotten.

Kathy: Your EarthLink family loves you and we’re here for you. Always.

Garry: Thank You. Stay Gold…

XoXoXo,
“Ragu”

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 12 2007

"How y'all doin'?"

The year was 1996. I remember Gary walking into the dimly lit Content department of the New York building, saying those words with such warmth and enthusiasm. The man exuded charm and class. I can't say I knew Gary terribly well, but my interaction with him during my 4.5 years at EarthLink was always a pleasure. He inspired me. He intrigued me. How could someone that successful and high up the company food chain be so down-to-earth and accessible? Looking back, I believe I know the answer. He cared. He genuinely cared about the people around him and for that he will be truly missed.

Kirk Millett

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 12 2007

Garry was a dear friend to me and to the student athletes of Georgia Tech. He will be tremendously missed by all who knew him.

God Bless,
Jack Thompson

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 11 2007

I first met Garry 5 years ago at his office where he invited me to have lunch. I was conducting a CEO search at the time and it is rare that on a first meeting a CEO takes the time and shows genuine interest to learn why they should consider another position. He became a business friend that would always be open to discuss his ideas of the Georgia technology market. My heart goes out to Kathy and the family and I can relate directly to the loss since I lost my wife to cancer last November.

God Bless,

Don Gienger
LEADERVision

Posted in Rare CEO by on Jan 10 2007

It’s a rare occasion in a lifetime when you meet an individual who will have a lasting impression on your continuing development in business and also as a person. Garry Betty was such a person and inspiration for me!

My first encounter with Garry was during the interview process at Hayes Microcomputer Products (modems) in 1985, when Bill Heys introduced me to the dynamic young Vice President of Sales and they hired me to start up the Government Sales division. Under Garry’s guidance & Bill’s tutelage, we developed the infamous “GoMo” (Hayes Government Modem) and proceeded to surreptitiously sell over 200,000 GoMos under profitable federal contracts.

Our paths crossed again when Garry asked me to help revitalize the sales efforts of a struggling uninterruptible power supply company that he had an interest in. By using DCA’s massive manufacturing facility as a “sub-contractor,” we were able to convince a major defense contractor to award the tiny company a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract for the UPS devices.

Therefore I was delighted to become an official EarthLinker last January to once again enjoy the infectious leadership that infuses a Garry Betty team. While Garry’s physical presence will be sorely missed, fond memories and valued lessons will live on in all the lives that he touched, especially mine!

God Bless Kathy, Garry’s family, and the myriad friends and colleagues he leaves behind.
Garry, you will not be forgotten!

Bill Butcher

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 10 2007

We Believe – CGB. These are the words on the blue bracelets worn by EarthLinkers and hundreds of Garry’s friends right now. Garry was a great man that made those who worked with him, those that played with him, and those that loved him, “Believe”.

I first met Garry at the original EarthLink Los Feliz location in December of 1995 when he stuck his head into my “office” that I shared with Eric Daley. I remember it like it was yesterday. The grin, the dimples, his eyes, the southern accent, the blue shirt (complete with the white collar and read tie), all contributed to my feeling at the time that this man was here to lead us through the challenges ahead.

Garry did in fact lead us through a time of incredible challenge and growth and in doing so he also changed us as people. This hit home with me at Garry’s memorial service on Saturday when Scott Hobby said that even though Garry was gone, that Garry had become a part of him. Garry made people better and he made people believe. You couldn’t help being around Garry without being infused with his energy, positive attitude, competitive drive, and genuine caring for his friends, family, and colleagues.

The battles on the golf course between the I-Boys (Irwin and Ihde) and the Southern Gentlemen (Betty and Heys) are memories I will always cherish. Prior to these matches, I never knew that there could be so many bets on a single round of golf but Garry was the master of tracking everything on the scorecard in meticulous detail. Garry was indeed “The Human Computer”. And, of course, there was never a doubt that the 9th and the 18th holes would be pressed as many times as necessary…as many times as necessary to make a certain part of his competitor’s anatomy “tight”.

My last conversation with Garry just before Christmas was as positive as usual. I am still in disbelief that his is gone and that he was taken from Kathy, his family and us so quickly. He was genuinely grateful for the outpouring of support from everyone around him after his diagnosis. At the same time he was talking positively about the future and how he believed he would prevail over this terrible disease. Yes, there was a press bet to be made and Garry was not backing down.

Garry was a dear friend and a phenomenal teacher. My wife Jacqui, my children and I are privileged to have known both Garry and Kathy. I hope to keep Garry’s examples and lessons of integrity, optimism, and generosity part of me for the rest of my life.

Garry, rest in peace.

Kathy, we love you.

Jon Irwin

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 9 2007

Kathy -
Thank you for sharing Garry's light with Earthlink. I was one of many employees that had an "elevator experience" with your husband and it only reinforced his friendly, positive and outgoing nature. I also wanted to thank you for giving us a chance to say goodbye to him Friday night.

You and your family are in my prayers and I firmly believe that Garry lived up to the following words of Charles Bukowski:

"We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."

Ericka A. Butler
Talent Acquisition

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 8 2007

Rest in Peace

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 8 2007

I had only a professional relationship with Garry Betty as the CEO of EarthLink. I met him for the first time after the MindSpring / EarthLink merger. I went to the EarthLink Holiday party in Pasadena since I had missed the one for MindSpring in Atlanta that year. Even though I was just an employee, he took time aside to meet me and introduce me to some of the EarthLink Executives at that time. It was then that I knew..."This Guy was Different."

Upon other encounters and discussions we had, I knew that Garry had a vision and pioneering spirit that became contagious all throughout the company. Under his leadership, EarthLink was a pioneer in helping people get onto the Internet. Garry knew that in the future, people would use the Internet as a way of life. He had a vision for the company and the way people use information on the Internet in the future. His vision will live on in the minds and hearts of those at EarthLink.

Garry was a leader, a mentor, and courageous pioneer. He will be greatly missed.

Godspeed Gary. ;-)

Posted in Garry Betty, Pioneering Todays and Tomorrows by on Jan 8 2007

I never met Garry personally, only in videos..But I knew for a fact that he is a good person and an achiever, WOW,,Elnk has gone so far and indeed very succesful!!!!Big Thanks to Garry, just hoping I can personally attend his burial.. SAVES-MAKATI --- SUPAHSTAR

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 7 2007

I was saddened at the loss of such a fine man and good friend as Gary was, and will always be remembered. I remember meeting Gary at TSi Power offices in Atlanta prior to his Earthlink endeavor. I joined Earthlink, and have always remained with Earthlink, because I met Gary personally. I have always felt a sense of pride knowing Gary (through you), even for the brief time our paths crossed in Norcross, GA.

Thanks, also, to Nam Paik of TSi Power, for introducing me to such a fine man many, many years ago.

Sincerely,

Harry Paris
www.GeorgeParisCo.com

Posted in Brush with Fame-to-be by on Jan 7 2007

I first met Garry in 1993 working at DCA. He treated me with respect, checked to see how I was doing, and asked his eternal greeting "How are we doin?", he was always an upbeat CEO. Oh I should mention, that this was my first high-tech job and I a mere Marketing intern but he never treated me like I was just an intern. I guess he helped make a great impression on me because it's now 14 years later I am still in the business and have led my own high-tech marketing firm for the past eight years. My prayer's are with his family. -- Jason E. Smith

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 7 2007

I met Garry for the first time over the phone, I was watching his Pasadena Executive Assistants desk (Shellah) and he called in. I practically fell out of my seat as I had just learned how to use the phone system and I had to connect a conference call with him and another top executive. I disconnected the call first time, I called him back and he was so patient, not upset, very forgiving and when I got it right the second time he made me feel like I was the best thing since sliced bread. He had that affect on you. He made you feel like you were as important as he was. As time went on I found myself working with some of the best boss' under Garry's leadership. Bill Heys, Mike Lunsford and the best boss ever Mike Ihde. Ihde and I and the rest of the Churn team came up with some of the best roadshows and we were so happy to be able to include Garry, as our fierless leader to put an end to EarthLink Churn. Garry was always there when he was available giving support to our crazy antics. The faith that he and Lundsford had in us to go traveling all over the U.S. was a chance and an opportunity of a lifetime (for me) It was always a pleasure for me to come to Atlanta and stick my head in his office door just to say hi and to let him know that I was in town and he'd always give me that big ole smile and ask if I had caught up with him on my sky miles.
I recently loss the last of the matriarchs of my family and because I had to be strong for the rest of the family I didn't cry, I took care of the business. When I learned of Garry's passing yesterday I wanted to help in some way, to call my old co-workers in Atlanta but it was too late, I wanted to be there and to share my condolences to Kathy and to Bill and his wife (I know how close they were) and to Lunsford and his family, Sky and Elsa Ambrize and the list goes on. I was able to catch up with Ihde for a brief moment and sent my condolences. I
I will keep you all (EarthLinker's) in my prayers and know that I really "loved" working for EarthLink and miss you all.

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by helgakuhn on Jan 7 2007

I’ve been at EarthLink for almost 9 years now and it has taken me a few days to even be able to write this. Garry was an amazing man whose eternal optimism and quest for success infected all who had the pleasure of knowing him. My most memorable times with Garry were during our climb to conquer the DSL market. I was running Fulfillment Operations at the time and whenever Garry would get contacted by a customer who did not receive their DSL modem, he would get up and personally walk down to my office and make sure that we addressed it (and then he would even follow up with the customer afterward to make certain they were taken care of!). Even as the CEO, he would take the time to address specific customer issues because he always had an incessant customer focus. That focus never changed over the years, even as our products matured and we launched new ones.

Garry was always firm and would shoot you straight but never made you feel small. He truly made me a better person and leader, and for that I thank him.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Kathy, the entire Betty family, and to those who knew him well and will miss him as I will.

Debbie Fiorella

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 7 2007

Garry's brilliance, warm heart and vision made him the most wonderful boss anyone could have ever imagined. We have all been blessed to have been touched by his leadership, his friendship and his caring soul, not just for those who worked alongside his path, but for all of those he met along the way. We send prayers and warm thoughts to Kathy and the Betty Family to celebrate the life of a man who touched so many with the goodness and grace of his presence...
Veronica Murdock

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by on Jan 7 2007

I’ve been feeling very sad this week, after hearing of Garry’s passing. I have many fond memories of my time at EarthLink, and Garry’s charming and engaged leadership style is at the top of the list. He was a role model to me as I was entering the leadership phase of my own career.

I began my career at EarthLink just after Garry had agreed to come on board as CEO in early 1996. Since I had taken a gamble on EarthLink, packing up and moving from Minnesota to Los Angeles within a week of receiving the job offer, I was relieved to see such an experienced leader at the helm. My job as head of Customer Service, was to take the small group previously referred to as “billing” and turn it into a professional Customer Service call center. That was no easy task with no computers and no desks! EarthLink had just moved into the Pasadena space, and at the time, I was sharing a half-built cubicle … it would be weeks before I would get a computer, let alone expanding our agent staff. I think it was Garry’s frequent walkabout tours, and his bubbly “how we doing today?” inquiries, that kept me from just throwing in the towel some days.

Needless to say, things improved, largely due to Garry’s hard work to increase our venture capital, and we were able to create a very professional and effective customer service operation. When we were finally past the stage of just putting out the fires every day (sometimes, literally), we entered upon the time that represents my favorite memories of Garry – the Salvaging makes $en$e program …

In those days when our systems were less than ideal, and “getting on the Internet” was actually a challenging task, we had many frustrated subscribers looking to just give up and cancel their service. So, we began a program to provide incentives to both the agent and the subscriber in order to save the account. Garry jumped into this program with gusto. He would come over to the Customer Service area on a regular basis, plug into the queue, and start taking calls! His southern charm was a natural advantage for him, when trying to convince customers to keep their accounts, but when that didn’t work, we’d often hear him say, “but you can’t cancel, because I’m the President, and you’ll make me look bad!” That technique was very effective and when Garry got other executives to join in and turned it into a “friendly competition” amongst them as to who could save the most accounts, you’d hear many claims of “no fair, that’s cheating,” when Garry would use that line or something similar.

On my last day at EarthLink, I met with Garry and thanked him for all the support and motivation he had provided during those challenging times. That was the last time I saw him, but it is some small comfort that I had the chance to tell him what a role model he had been to me. I will miss him, but his inspiration to be that type of leader and that type of person, will always be with me.

Thank you for the chance to know you, Garry. You were truly an exceptional person! My condolences to Kathy and the rest of the family.

Patti Breyfogle
EarthLink Customer Service
1996 - 1999

Posted in Post your messages about Garry! by pab2ebart on Jan 7 2007