[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 1 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF WILLIAM RUSE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL G. OXLEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 24, 2000

  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to William Ruse, a seasoned 
health care executive who will be retiring at the end of the year 2000 
after 43 years of service in the health care industry.
  Bill started his career as pharmacist in 1957; and by 1963, upon 
completing his MBA in Hospital Administration from Xavier University in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, he advanced from pharmacy director to hospital 
administrator. As President and CEO of Blanchard Valley Hospital, he 
aggressively began transforming the organization from a small rural 
hospital to a regional health system. Recognizing the advantages of 
legal savvy, Bill completed a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree ``in his 
spare time'' by 1972.
  Through his vision and entrepreneurial spirit, he developed programs 
on uncharted paths. He gained national recognition when he introduced 
the first ``guaranteed services'' policy in the country in 1974. Then 
in the early 1980's, Blanchard Valley Health Association was one of the 
first businesses to band smoking in their facilities. As small 
hospitals have struggled to maintain a presence in health care, 
Blanchard Valley has continued to grow and expand by forging 
partnership relationships that insure their customers' best interests.
  His professional leadership positions, awards, honors, and society 
memberships along with community service accomplishments read like a 
Who's Who Library. In addition, he has published articles in both 
health care and law journals.
  Bill Ruse is an American we can be proud of in every sense of the 
word. And one last honor of distinction--he just celebrated his 65th 
birthday so now we welcome him into our inner circle, the Social 
Security System. Pat and I would like to express our sincere best 
wishes to William Ruse and his lovely wife, Donna as they move through 
their golden years.

                          ____________________