Robert Andrew Betts, born on May 14, 1903, in Lee County, Alabama, was the oldest of four children born to Lee County Sheriff William Andrew Betts and his wife Essie Mae Wallace Betts. Robert Betts was educated in Lee County schools and graduated from Opelika High School in 1921. He studied electrical engineering at Alabama Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1925 with highest honors. Betts worked for one year with the Westinghouse Corporation but returned to Alabama in 1926 to join the faculty of his alma mater. He held the rank of assistant professor in the electrical engineering department until called for military service in 1942. Until the end of the war in 1945, Betts served with the 94th Infantry Division in Europe.

After the war, Betts made the decision not to return to teaching, since higher education standards for faculty had been adopted which would require him to attend gradate school. During the next several years Betts was employed by the Agricultural Adjustment Administration and campaigned twice, unsuccessfully, for the office of lee County Probate Judge. Betts was an original member of the City of Opelika Water Board, serving the city in that capacity from 1948 until 1977. In recognition of his long tenure, the City of Opelika named its water filtration plant in his honor.

In the 1950s, Betts purchased a general merchandise store and restaurant north of Opelika. The restaurant which adjoined the Betts Store was named the Chicken House and was known for fried chicken and barbecue.

Betts was an active member of the Opelika Kiwanis Club for over sixty years and maintained perfect attendance for forty-nine years. He received the prestigious Hixon award from the Kiwanis Club on the occasion of the club’s 75th anniversary in 1995.

Robert Andrew Betts died in Opelika on April 26, 1995.