City honors educator, civic leader
Long-time educator and civic leader Oliver A. Ruff didn't quite get his name up in lights Saturday, but he did get get signs with his name that will be lit by street lights.
Ruff and Mayor Daniel Biss were on hand to pull the cover off a sign designating Grey Avenue between Howard and Dobson streets as Oliver A. Ruff Way.
Former Mayor Steve Hagerty, District 65 Superintendent Angel Turner and a host of other local dignitaries attended the event.
Ruff worked in various District 65 schools for decades, as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, retiring in 2005.
Since then he has been active in civic causes, most notably founding the Oliver A. Ruff Education and Mentoring Scholarship program. He also did a stint working in leadership positions for the Waukegan schools.
This was a long climb up from Ruff's childhood in the Jim Crow Georgia of the '40s and '50s, where he helped his family, who were sharecroppers, pick cotton.
His mother fled that oppressive environment and moved the family north to Evanston in the '50s.
Ruff was an accomplished athlete as a youth and graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1966. He went on to earn a doctoral degree from Roosevelt University.
"This is one of the greatest joys of my life and one of the best thrills," Ruff said. "It's just amazing to see all the people who gathered and the words that were shared." He added that he was glad "to receive those blessings and those messages while I can still appreciate them."
Mayor Biss said, "There's not a lot of folks in this town who could bring a crowd together like this. We are here because Oliver Ruff represents the best of Evanston."
Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) said she shares a long personal connection with Ruff, because of the support he gave her family after her father, who was Ruff's best friend, died.
She said that Ruff has created many community leaders over the years. "That's the testimony of a real leader, when a leader can create other leaders," she added.
Ruff touched the lives of many attendees when they were growing up. Tina Penick, who has been close to Ruff and his family since childhood, said, "I feel like he's been in my life to mentor," adding that Ruff always has had a "positive impact in our neighborhood in our community, and for that I'm grateful."
