Mercedes Alison Bates
Encyclopedia
Mercedes Alison Bates is a graduate of Oregon State University
most famous for her involvement in General Mills
, specifically the Betty Crocker
division.
Mercedes Bates graduated with a degree in Health and Human Sciences in 1936 from Oregon State University. She was also a member of the Delta Zeta
sorority.
Post graduation, Mrs. Bates had a storied job history. She started working at Southern California Gas Company as a Supervisor of home services. From there she began to work at Globe Mills food which lead her to start her own venture in Hollywood as an advertising food consultant. McCall's magazine recognized her understanding of family values, their strength's and weaknesses and hired her as the food editor. In 1964, Mercedes Bates became the director of the Betty Crocker division of General Mills. By 1966 she was vice president of the division, making her the first woman officer at General Mills. She held this position until 1983 when she retired.
Because of her involvement with the Betty Crocker division and her desire to make the food industry recognize family values, Bates received the nickname of "Betty Crocker."
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
most famous for her involvement in General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
, specifically the Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker AKA: batter witch is a cultural icon, as well as brand name and trademark of American Fortune 500 corporation General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was...
division.
Mercedes Bates graduated with a degree in Health and Human Sciences in 1936 from Oregon State University. She was also a member of the Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada...
sorority.
Post graduation, Mrs. Bates had a storied job history. She started working at Southern California Gas Company as a Supervisor of home services. From there she began to work at Globe Mills food which lead her to start her own venture in Hollywood as an advertising food consultant. McCall's magazine recognized her understanding of family values, their strength's and weaknesses and hired her as the food editor. In 1964, Mercedes Bates became the director of the Betty Crocker division of General Mills. By 1966 she was vice president of the division, making her the first woman officer at General Mills. She held this position until 1983 when she retired.
Because of her involvement with the Betty Crocker division and her desire to make the food industry recognize family values, Bates received the nickname of "Betty Crocker."
External links
- http://alumni.oregonstate.edu/famous/b.html
- http://www.hhs.oregonstate.edu/hdfs/mercedes-alison-bates