It should come as no surprise that Ruth Ann Palumbo has joined the Rotary Club of Lexington as she has spent most of her life in service to others. A native of Lexington, she spent years doing volunteer work (receiving the Governors Volunteer Activist Award in 1989) before running for and winning a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives, where she served for thirty-four years.
During her tenure, Ruth Ann served on numerous committees, chairing the House Economic Development Committee for twenty years, promoting Kentucky’s signature industries and securing funding for Kentucky’s colleges and universities. Ruth Ann is particularly proud of her role in passing legislation that helped women, children, families, the elderly, consumers, and small businesses. One example is The Women’s Health Act of 1998 which required insurance companies to cover reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. Another example is the passage of legislation requiring AEDs – defibrillators – in schools in Kentucky.
Ruth Ann has no intention of slowing down and resting on her laurels. Her goal in life is to help people and make the world a better place. Traveling is not high on her bucket list, she would rather stay close to home and assist with local projects. One such project involves working with fellow Rotarian Gregory Turay to obtain funding for Elevate Arts, KY Inc. There is currently a great need for spaces for arts rehearsals and performances for Lexington groups, including high schools.
Ruth Ann has six grandchildren with whom she enjoys spending time, and she loves playing the piano and organ. Her three adult sons all live in Lexington. A favorite hobby of hers is collecting wooden music boxes and her collection includes nearly two dozen, including examples from the Erzgebirge region in Germany and Czechoslovakia, an area renowned for its intricate wooden crafts.
As a good example of Ruth Ann’s eagerness to help in any way, when I spoke with her the first time, I mentioned Harry’s Small Group, Rotarians who meet once a month to provide food for families at Northern Elementary. Her reaction – “When is the next time, I want to help!”
– John Meyers