"These stories are a fitting tribute to Mary Kay's enduring legacy." -Erma Thomson, Special Assistant to Mary Kay Ash for almost thirty years Taking advantage of the flexibility of the Mary Kay opportunity, Doretha spent the first three years of her Mary Kay career focused more on motherhood and taking care of her family until she received the now infamous termination letter. Motivated by the "inspiration of termination," she set her first real goal and sprang into action, debuting as a Director six months later and setting the trajectory for a career that would make her one of the most successful women in the history of Mary Kay. Almost forty years later, Doretha retired as the Number One Elite Executive Independent National Sales Director ("NSD") worldwide with over $10,000,000 in career earnings. She was also the first NSD in the history of the Company to earn over $100,000 in one month and the first to be "on-target" for a million-dollar year as she led a $66,700,000 international sales force known in Mary Kay parlance as the "Dingler Area." "As the company she founded celebrates half a century, I take such great pride that I was able to get to know a woman who is virtually all by herself in the category of inspirational business leaders with an innate understanding of women." -Yvonne Pendleton, former Director of Corporate Heritage for Mary Kay, Inc. "It is leaders like you who have made our company great." -Telegram from Mary Kay Ash to Doretha Dingler, April 8, 1976