Rare Example of Loyalty
Biographical sketch of Ruth Bostian and her support of East Carolina. This and other documents can be found in the Chancellor's Administrative File, CH1050, Series 3, Subseries 6, Box 12, Folder 13. Citation for this article: Taylor, Alvin. "Rare Example of Loyalty," Daily Reflector, October 24, 1961.
Ruth Bostian was a pretty coed at East Carolina Teachers College back in 1947. But her status was a little different from the hundreds of other coeds at the then small college.Ruth was a veteran. She had been a student at ECTC before in 1942-43. Then in the midst of World War II she joined the WAVES, the women's arm of the U.S. Navy which was organized during the war.
Victory was won in 1945 and Ruth returned to college. Here she was an active physical education major -- described as a beautiful dancer by those who knew her -- and a business education minor.
She did well in her studies. College authorities say she was an excellent student. Winding up her junior year in 1949, the future appeared bright for the 24-year-old Ruth.
Then it all ended. Ruth was swimming in the Pamlico River near Washington. She dove in, but the water was too shallow and her spinal column was injured.
For 11 years now Ruth has lain in McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Va. The unfortunate accident completely paralyzed her.
But Ruth hasn't given up. About a year ago some one perfected aluminum and leather braces for her arms and hands. By practice, she learned to hold a glass of water and to write with a pencil.
Now, local college authorities report, the indomitable Ruth is bent on completing her degree. She is taking correspondence courses from the University of Tennessee. She is taking courses in business administration and also studying anatomy and physiology, making superior grades.
With the new found use of her hands, she is able to tint slides for the history research division of the Medical College of Virginia, even though she is bedridden.
That's been pretty much Ruth Bostian's life since she was forced by the injury to leave ECTC in 1949.
What's happened back here since Ruth left is a well known success story around North Carolina. The "T" has been dropped from ECTC. It's now East Carolina College. The student body has grown from less than 2,000 in those days to more than 5,000 this quarter. ECC's campus was 100 acres then. Now it is more than 200 acres with another 70 acres expected to be added.
Huge dormitories have grown up where corn grew only a few years ago. And recently a drive has been underway to raise $250,000 for constructing a concrete outdoor stadium on a new section of campus.
Ruth, who has not seen ECC for many years, is nevertheless proud of her alma mater. This we know. For as an alumnus she received one of the 14,000 brochures mailed out by the college asking for donations to the stadium fund.
Ruth, who may never sit in the James S. Ficklen Memorial Stadium, sent back a pledge for two seats -- $40.
Pres. Leo W. Jenkins was the new dean of the college when Ruth's accident happened 12 years ago. He summed it for everybody.
"It was the most inspiring demonstration of loyalty that we've experienced during the campaign and there have been many such experiences."
Nobody will know which two seats Ruth Bostian bought when the mass of concrete takes its shape. But they will be there -- a gift from a loyal alumna.
