Congressional Record

Congressional Record

HONORING MS. ELIZABETH (BETH) S. RUYLE

HON. JERRY WELLER

OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, February 8, 2000

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

honor Ms. Elizabeth (Beth) S. Ruyle for her 21

years of service and dedication as executive

director for the South Suburban Mayors and

Managers Association (SSMMA).

Ms. Ruyle became the executive director of

South Suburban Mayors and Managers in

June 1978. South Suburban Mayors and Man-

agers is a council of government which in-

cludes 38 municipalities in South Suburban

Cook and Eastern Will Counties. Through

Beth’s hard work, many of the communities’

goals have been realized. These goals include

the development of regional planning pro-

grams in transportation, solid waste, flood

management, and housing. Twenty municipali-

ties now have an intergovernmental self insur-

ance pool for property and casualty. Twelve

municipalities can now boast they have an

intergovernmental self insurance pool for em-

ployee benefits. All thirty-eight municipalities

can now rely on fire, police, and public works

mutual aid agreements in times of emergency.

Under the direction of Ms. Ruyle, the SSMMA

was one of the first entities to establish a

multimunicipal bond bank which now has $50

million in assets.

Before coming to work at the SSMMA, Beth

and her husband, Craig Hullinger, lived in At-

lanta, GA where she had the position of gov-

ernmental relations coordinator for the Atlanta

Regional Commission. Beth completed her un-

dergraduate studies at the University of Flor-

ida in 1968. In 1975, She received her M.P.A.

graduate degree from the University of Geor-

gia.

Beth has won several Urban Innovations

awards during her career such as an award

for Employee Assistance Program, an award

for South Suburban Drug Enforcement Pro-

gram, and a reward for Cost Savings/Revenue

Enhancement. In January 1996, Beth was list-

ed in ‘‘Crain’s Chicago Business’’ as one of

the ‘‘100 Most Influential Women In Chicago’’.

Beth Ruyle’s commitment and impact on her

community is not only deserving of congres-

sional recognition, but should serve as a

model for others to follow.

At a time when our Nation’s leaders are

asking the people of this country to make

serving their community a core value of citi-

zenship, honoring Beth Ruyle is both timely

and appropriate.