Ralph Ruff always held out a helping hand
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He served as director of Washington state's Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises and later helped develop a thriving local Head Start program, bringing preschool education and other services to children of low-income families.
When Mr. Ruff died Dec. 23 at 78 from complications after a heart attack, he was remembered for knowing how encouragement can turn a life toward success. He tried to offer support in a variety of ways, from minority business contracts to early education.
"He was a fabulous man," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "He was a pioneer. He opened doors. He provided a tremendous amount of opportunity to people."
"His quiet demeanor attracted you," Sims added.
Mr. Ruff was the kind of person people wanted to hear when he finally spoke, after others had voiced opinions at a meeting, the county executive noted.
Born Dec. 29, 1922, in Baltimore to Charles and Inez Ruff, Mr. Ruff grew up in Buffalo, N.Y.
As a youth, Mr. Ruff, an African American, encountered racism so dispiriting that he left high school at 16 to join the Army, said his wife, Charlotte Ruff.
Years later, she said, her husband often spoke of an officer who became his mentor, telling him he could accomplish much in his life.
Partly as a result of such encouragement, Mr. Ruff completed requirements for a GED diploma and went on to earn a degree in industrial engineering at California State University at Hayward. He also studied business management at the University of Washington.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Mr. Ruff worked as an industrial engineer for the Navy and for Aerojet General in California.
He developed skills in contract negotiations, and from 1975 to 1978 served the Navy in Seattle working on contracts for engineers, auditors and others.
Mr. Ruff worked for the federal Small Business Administration from 1978 to 1985 as negotiator and administrator of federal contracts facilitated for minority contractors through the agency in its Seattle district.
He was responsible for ensuring that economically disadvantaged small businesses received consideration for federal contracts equal to that given other companies.
When Booth Gardner was governor, he named Mr. Ruff director of the state's Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises, where from 1985 to 1988 he was responsible for ensuring that such businesses were given fair and equal consideration for government contracts.
After retiring in 1988, Mr. Ruff continued his efforts to encourage the disadvantaged. Among his volunteer activities, he helped establish and lead a Head Start program at Seattle's First African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a longtime member of the program's board and served for a time as its interim executive director.
"He was a very knowledgeable and very caring man," with great interest in services that would encourage the best in children, said Paula Jones, the current executive director of the program, which now serves 339 children. "Mr. Ruff was always one I could count on to say something positive."
Mr. Ruff was active in the church, past board chairman of the Central Area Senior Center, and a member of the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He was past master of the Masonic Lodge, Prince Hall Affiliation.
Besides his wife, survivors include a stepson, Troy Dawson of Des Moines; four daughters from a previous marriage, Loraine Olivia Ruff-Brown, Dorlene Adair Ruff-Clayton, Carlita Ruff-France and Glenda Yvonne Ruff-West, all of California; sisters Delores Perry of Tacoma and Emily Ruff of Buffalo, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and seven nieces.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at First AME Church, 1522 14th Ave. in Seattle.
Judith Blake can be reached at 206-464-2349 or jblake@seattletimes.com.