Distinguished Person of Honor

(Feb. 2, 1924 —           )

Ruth Ann graduated from Washburn University with a bachelor’s degree and worked at the college to help fund her education. Her early commitment to education continued when she became a high school teacher in Topeka, and then came to Olathe where she taught business at John P. St. John Memorial High School in the early 1950s. She continued to be an advocate for public education by serving on the Olathe Board of Education from 1969-91, and on the Kansas Association of School Boards from 1977-88. She also served on the National School Boards Association, was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, director of the Metropolitan Kansas City United Community Services, Good Samaritan board member, Seniors Serving Schools volunteer, Parents as Teachers board member, Olathe Public Library board member and president, Olathe YMCA board member, and Olathe Medical Center Charitable Foundation board member, among other activities.