Clemson woman’s ancestor played host to Earhart

Among the keepsakes for a long-time Clemson resident is a copy of the last known photograph of the famed aviator Amelia Earhart. Betty Higby recently showed that photograph to 96.3/WGOG NEWS and explained how her aunt, an Anderson resident, helped co-host a visit by Earhart—only days before the aviator and her navigator disappeared forever on an attempted flight around the world. That was July 2, 1937—76 years ago tomorrow. More than one thousand people greeted Earhart, who by then had captivated the country because of her aerial exploits. In an interview Higby explains how the photograph came to be only days before she and her navigator crashed in New Guinea. Over the years, there has been much speculation about Earhart’s last flight—such as whether she flew on a spy mission for President Roosevelt. Most evidence suggests her plane simply ran out of fuel and sank quickly.