Weissport in Carbon County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Betty Mullen Brey
A Champion Remembered
November 23, 1931 - March 21, 2015
Upon graduating from Purdue University, Betty received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Women's Medical Specialist Corps. Her interest in working with physically impaired individuals led her to become a physical therapist. She chose to work at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. Her job entailed rehabilitating post polio and Korean Conflict amputee patients. She also would be swimming for the new national swimming champions, Walter Reed Swim Club. Betty's Olympic dreams were rekindled when she added a new stroke, the butterfly, to her freestyle stroke.
Betty swam in the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City, winning gold in the 4 Χ 100 meter freestyle relay and silver in the 100 meter butterfly. The summer of 1955 was the most notable time in her swimming career, having set American and World records twice in the 100 yard and 100 meter butterfly stroke.
After marrying Paul Brey, Betty decided to try out for the 1956 Olympics. She qualified and was a member of the silver medal 4 Χ 100 meter freestyle relay team in Melbourne, Australia.
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Betty and her husband then concentrated on raising a family. They had three wonderful children, Mike, Brenda, and Shane. All three followed in their parents footsteps and were outstanding athletes.
Betty's additional notable awards and achievements were as follows:
~ State Department Good Will Tour to Finland, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Greece, and Germany to demonstrate the new butterfly stroke and dolphin kick
~ George Washington University women's swim coach
~ Masters Senior Olympics swimming competition into her 80s.
~ Member of Alumni Relations Board of U.S.A. Swimming
~ Inducted into Purdue University Sports Hall of Fame
~ Inducted (along with her husband) into Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame
~ Honored as a Graduate of Distinction by Lehighton Education & Athletic Foundation
During Betty's high school years, she set three major goals in her life: to become an Olympic swimmer, to marry her high school sweetheart, and to raise a family of three children. By accomplishing those goals, it was truly a life
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Science & Medicine • Sports • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is November 23, 1931.
Location. 40° 49.768′ N, 75° 42.136′ W. Marker is in Weissport, Pennsylvania, in Carbon County. It is at the intersection of Franklin Street and Park Street, on the right when traveling north on Franklin Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 116 Franklin St, Lehighton PA 18235, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region and in the Pocono Mountains. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Betty Mullen Brey (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Betty Mullen Brey (a few steps from this marker); Fort Allen (a few steps from this marker); Fort Allen Well (within shouting distance of this marker); Franklin's Week in Weissport (within shouting distance of this marker); National War Savings Campaign of 1918 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jacob Weiss Memorial (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Fort Allen (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weissport.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
