Custom field: highlighted text not working right

Hi all

I followed these instructions -> https://support.sugarcrm.com/Documentation/Sugar_Developer/Sugar_Developer_Guide_7.6/UI_Model/Fields/Examples/Creating_C…  

Works fine in List View:

However in Record View (edit mode), the color appears and then goes immediatly away:

I must be doing something awfully, silly, tiny, thing wrong (yes, I did do QR&R).   Help!!  

Ent 7.7.1.2

Thanks,

KGM