Administration

Communications

Eugenia Ruth Legal Research Laboratory unveiled
Thursday, April 07, 2011

CANTON, Mo. – The Eugenia Ruth Legal Research Laboratory was unveiled today on the campus of Culver-Stockton College. The addition of the research lab was made possible through the generous donation from the Honorable Judge Dennis Ruth ‘83. Ruth made the donation in honor of his mother, Eugenia. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Ruth spoke about his mother and his decision to make a donation to Culver-Stockton College in her honor. “I had four siblings, and my mother was determined to provide us all with an education,” said Ruth. “She was a pioneer as a soccer mom. She drove us to soccer, she was a den mother, a room mother, she drove us to track, to hockey – you name it, she did it. But she would scoff if you called her a soccer mom; she would say ‘I’m just a mom.’ When it came time to start talking about sending us kids to college, she went out and got a job as a secretary. She worked for the next 20 years with the sole purpose of sending us all to college. Every penny my mom earned went to pay for tuition. She never expected any thanks, but this room is my way of saying thanks. So thanks, Mom.”

Culver-Stockton President Richard Valentine also spoke during the dedication, commenting on the educational impact of the research lab. “Obviously, Eugenia Ruth was the driving force in Dennis’ education, and the driving force for his entire family. Now, through Dennis’ generous gift, Eugenia will be a driving force in the education of countless Culver-Stockton students for generations to come,” said Valentine.

The legal research lab features 10 all-in-one computers, tables, chairs and a color printer. The addition of the research lab will assist criminal justice students and others by giving them access to computers, online resources and other research materials. The new laboratory sits adjacent to the Mock Trial Courtroom, which located in the lower level of Johann Memorial Library.

Members of the C-SC Mock Trial team were also on hand for the dedication. Mock Trial team Co-Captain Jessica Deters, junior criminal justice major from LaGrange, Mo., spoke during the dedication. “Right now, if we’re here in the courtroom and need to do research, we have to go upstairs and use the computers in the library. There’s a lot of running back and forth. Now, we’ll be able to do our research right here. And the lab won’t just help the Mock Trial team; it will help criminal justice majors, and students who are studying politics and law,” said Deters. Mock Trial team coach and C-SC Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Law Judy Abbott also commented on the addition of the research lab, saying “This will be great to show our incoming students. This lab is just one more example of the commitment this college has to those students who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field.”

Dennis Ruth is a 1983 graduate of Culver-Stockton College. After graduating from C-SC, Ruth went on to attend St. Louis University Law School. He worked for several years as a prosecuting attorney and eventually joined a firm that handled worker’s compensation claims. In 2001, he was appointed as an arbitrator for the Illinois Industrial Commission, which is now known as the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Commission. He was instrumental in helping to draft Illinois’ first-ever worker’s compensation fraud legislation, which is still used today. In 2007, Ruth decided to return to the courtroom and announced plans to run for circuit judge in Madison County, Illinois. Ruth was sworn in as a circuit court judge in December 2008 and still sits on the bench.

Photos:
1) Dennis Ruth '83 speaks during the dedication of the Eugenia Ruth Legal Research Laboratory.

2) C-SC President Richard Valentine stands-by as Dennis Ruth '83 cuts the ribbon on the new research lab dedicated in honor of his mother, Eugenia Ruth.