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.
