Ruth never meant to be a firefighter. It was a career not open to women in the early 1970s. She studied music and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in piano and music theory. After completing coursework for a master’s degree in music theory and working for several years in an opera performance ensemble, she decided to look around for something different. When she learned the Kansas City (Missouri) Fire Department was hiring firefighters, and they would consider women, she decided to apply. She was hired in 1977, and, despite having no background in the fire service, she found that she loved this work and determined to make it her career.

Ruth worked her way up through the ranks of Firefighter, Fire Apparatus Operator, and Battalion Chief with KCFD. Special interests along the way included becoming an EMT, then an EMT instructor, and eventually the department’s first EMS Chief, in addition to working regular line positions at all ranks and in all areas of the city. As with all fire service careers, there have been highs and lows. Two especially significant tragedies have had a lasting impact—the 1981 Hyatt Hotel skywalks collapse in Kansas City, which killed 114 people and seriously injured hundreds, and the 1988 explosion at a construction site that killed six Kansas City firefighters—Ruth’s friends and co-workers.

In 1996 Ruth moved to Eugene, Oregon to take a position as Division Chief of Planning for Eugene Fire & EMS Department. She led that department’s records management, strategic and operational planning, grants management, and accreditation activities, as well as serving as the city’s emergency management director.

In 2006, Ruth relocated again to become the Deputy Chief of Operations for Puyallup Fire & Rescue and was appointed Fire Chief in 2007. With the annexation of the City of Puyallup into Central Pierce in January 2009, Ruth became the Deputy Chief of Administration.

Throughout Ruth’s fire service career, she has continued to pursue professional development opportunities, obtaining an Associate Degree in Fire Science Technology (Penn Valley Community College, 1990), a Bachelor of Public Administration/Fire Service Management (Park College, 1993), graduation from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (1998), and a Master of Science in Executive Fire Service Leadership (Grand Canyon University, 2004). She has also achieved the internationally recognized Chief Fire Officer designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Ruth and Chuck live in Puyallup. They enjoy traveling, geocaching, hiking and other outdoor activities. They share their home with their cat Beethoven.