Elizabeth (Bettie) Stickler Fruits Cadou was born on New Years Day in 1936 in Bainbridge, Indiana. Although she is best known for being the first female reporter to be given a silver credential badge that permits access to the pit and garage areas of the world-famous racetrack, the Indianapolis 500, on 28 May 1971,[1] Cadou is equally known for her investigative reporting around the state of Indiana, covering the Indiana General Assembly, the Indianapolis Colts, and national profiles of race car drivers. She was elected into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2006 and has a journalism scholarship in her name in the Department of Journalism at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis.[2]
Bettie Cadou | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1936 Bainbridge, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | 2002 |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, Photojournalist |
| Notable credit | CASPAR Award |
| Children | 3 |
Early life edit
Cadou's mother was an amateur poet, artist and classical pianist who worked as a telephone operator; her father was a police officer. Cadou moved with her mother and siblings several times as she grew up in the Crawfordsville area. She attended Indiana University Bloomington and received a bachelor of arts in English.
Career edit
Cadou worked for a number of Indianapolis publications, including the Indianapolis News, the Hammond Times, and Indianapolis Monthly. Her byline appeared frequently in many national publications, including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and countless racing publications.[3][4]
She taught at journalism at both Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis and Butler University. On both campuses, Bettie's popularity among students – whom she called her “chickadees” – was legendary.[5]
Personal life edit
In between her beginnings in Bainbridge and her Butler and IUPUI years, Cadou became the mother of two daughters and a son: Kitty, Laura, and Hadley.
Honors and awards edit
- CASPAR Award
Organizations edit
- American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association
References edit
- ^ "Bette Cadou - Moment of Indiana History - Indiana Public Media". Moment of Indiana History - Indiana Public Media. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "IU School of Liberal Arts @ IUPUI: Scholarships". liberalarts.iupui.edu. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ Journalism, Indiana University (22 January 2006). "Cadou , Bettie". Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ Price, Nelson. "Hoosier women pioneers in media". Hoosier History Live!. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ Journalism, Indiana University (22 January 2006). "Cadou , Bettie". Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2016.