On Goes the River: Ruth Snodgrass inducted into Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame

  • By Teri Stein
  • July 6, 2013
  • 476
                        
Summary: What do Paul Newman, Bob Hope, and John Glenn have in common with Dover resident Ruth Snodgrass? All are extremely accomplished individuals who have been honored to be placed among the best Ohio has to offer and one certain award. Senior citizens have much to give and can play an important role in our communities. That is the focus of the annual Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame awards that aim to unleash the power of our Golden Buckeyes. Ruth Snodgrass of Dover, who will be 85 this month, was honored with induction into the OSCHOF this spring. She maintains a busy schedule of activities in the community while still focusing on using her talents. “Don’t step back from life just because you’ve reached a certain age,” said Ruth “Ordinary people do some good things. They may have health problems but they are still excited by life and want to do as much as they can. They want to stay engaged.” Ruth was nominated for the award by her daughter, Mary Buckley of Lima. “Ruth’s creative spirit, optimism, and eagerness for her next creative or community project keep her young-at-heart and active, truly an inspiration and an example of the vitality of positive aging,” wrote Buckley in the nomination. Ruth is one of the six children of the late Mary and James Mugridge; the family lived in Somerset County in Pennsylvania. After graduating from Otterbein College in 1951, Ruth began her teaching career. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher because my oldest sister would play school with me,” she said. “Elizabeth took me to school the first day and introduced me to my teacher and said you don’t have to teach her to read because I already have.” “When I got out of college I had an offer to teach at Put-In-Bay, an island in Lake Erie, and one from Strasburg,” said Ruth who accepted the job at Strasburg. She taught at Strasburg for 4 years, Beach City for 6 years, and then in 1961 moved to Tuscarawas Valley schools were she taught until she retired in 1985. During her career, Ruth taught English, French, Speech, and Journalism and directed plays. She often hears from former students who were inspired by her. “I would ask my students what they were reading and tell them what I was reading. One student said ‘I just have to tell you what you did for me in English class. I never was a good student but I love reading. I never go a day without reading.’” Ruth is involved in many activities including The Valley Voices, a women’s barbershop choir, and she is co-president of the local chapter of United Methodist women. She is also a founding member of two groups: the Tuscarawas County Writers’ Guild and Hispanic Ministries of Tuscarawas County. At the age of 74, Ruth published her first book of memoirs about her childhood, “Dark Brown is the River,” and later its sequel, “On Goes the River: The Somerset Years.” “I’m really happy that I managed to write those books, they’ll have a long lasting effect on my family,” she said. Ruth is also the author of two children’s books. Snodgrass was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame on May 24 at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium along with seven other individuals from around the state. Ohio’s Joined Hearts in Giving awards for couples committed to volunteerism who have been married at least 40 years were also presented to five couples. Ruth was thrilled to have ten family members attend the ceremony and to meet the others inducted in the OSCHOF. “I was so astonished hearing their stories and what they had done. I was impressed by them.” Ruth is in good company, the awards have been given since 1977 and more than 400 individuals have been honored including Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, John Glenn, Woody Hayes, Erma Bombeck, and Paul Newman.


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