Our Mission

The purpose of the Wm. Chester Ruth Legacy Project is to honor African American inventor and businessman William Chester Ruth and to sustain his legacy of courage to affect the world around him for good, by providing resources and educational programs about his life and contributions.

Who we are

BOARD MEMBERS

Gwendolyn Ruth Dickinson, President
granddaughter, Wm. Chester Ruth
(Retired Physician’s Assistant, Coatesville VA Medical Center)

Bruce D. Bomberger, Ph.D., Vice President
(Archivist & Librarian, Lebanon County Historical Society)

Michelle D. Dickinson, Secretary
great-granddaughter, Wm. Chester Ruth
(Account Dir., Williams Lea @ McDermott Will & Emery, LLC)

Suzanne M. Fitzgerald, J.D., Treasurer
(CEO, Fitzgerald Wealth Management)

Marke D. Dickinson
great-grandson, Wm. Chester Ruth
(President & CEO, AAA Western and Central New York)

Sue A. Groff
(Retired Legal Administrator, Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP)

Leroy T. Hopkins Jr., Ph.D.
(Professor Emeritus, Millersville University Foreign Language & Past President of the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania)

Kate Kooker
(Retired Marketing Director & Event Planner, Nonprofit Sector)

Sheldon N. Martin, CPA, Bookkeeper
(Controller, Resource Partners Risk Management Solutions)

Jeff Opperman
(Retired Communications Executive)