Bill Ruth

Bill Ruth, who passed away September 7, 2021 at 87 years young, sponsored, managed and played on Senior Softball teams for almost thirty years. As the owner of W. E. Ruth Realty he actually sponsored his first slow pitch softball team back in 1967 and his teams were well known for competing, consistently, at the highest level for many years. Bill was also President of the Independent Sports Association. His main business was real estate throughout the Northwest and in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Bill became President of Senior Softball USA in 2000 and was a guiding voice behind the growth of SSUSA in both America and around the world. Bill was inducted into four halls of fame--USSSA, Senior Softball National, SSUSA and the ISA.

I played on several Senior Softball teams that Bill sponsored and we won Senior Softball National titles in the 55 & over and 60 & over division. For 20 years Bill and his staff organized trips all over the world with the result being Senior Softball players from the USA playing teams from various countries.

In the words of Terry Hennessy, Executive Director of Senior Softball USA, “the memories of this very special man are the best legacy Bill Ruth could leave us”. A very special man indeed. By Bob Young, a 2008 inductee into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame and Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball Oldtimers Association committee member.