[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            COMMEMORATING THE RETIREMENT OF RUTH ONITA SPAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2007

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable person, 
Ruth Onita Spake, who has dedicated her career and life to public 
service as Chief Financial Officer for the Santa Clara County Social 
Services Agency. She is retiring from the County of Santa Clara on July 
20, 2007 after thirty-seven years of exemplary work.
  Ruth Onita Spake was born on April 3, 1945 in Tallahassee, Florida. 
Academic excellence was a priority for her; she received an Associates 
Degree from Napa Junior College and obtained her Bachelors Degree and a 
Standardized Secondary Teachers Credential from the University of 
California, Davis. Before joining the Social Services Agency, she 
worked as a substitute teacher and as a cost account clerk for an 
international newspaper.
  Ruth's career with Santa Clara County began in 1970 as a Food Stamp 
Eligibility Worker, where she interviewed applicants on an individual 
basis to help determine their eligibility to receive county resources. 
She quickly rose through the ranks and became a Supervisor in just four 
years. Soon after that, she was appointed as the Program Coordinator, 
responsible for organizing and directing the entire food stamp program.
  After receiving a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the 
University of California, Riverside, Ruth continued to contribute to 
Santa Clara County. In 1980, she joined the County Executive's Office 
of Management and Budget where she stayed for five years. However, she 
could not resist the call to work towards improving the welfare of 
Santa Clara residents. By 1985, she had returned to the Social Services 
Agency to manage the agency's budget.
  Ruth progressed quickly through the agency, and her efforts were 
admired by all those who had the pleasure of working with her. By the 
early 1990's, Ruth was managing the $500 million dollar budget of 
Social Services in conjunction with Central Services and Information 
Systems. Her role as the Chief Financial Officer afforded her the 
opportunity to initiate modernization for the agency. She planned and 
implemented a multi-building renovation project for the agency, 
revamping the physical infrastructure to supply superior services for 
the residents.

  In addition, Ruth co-chaired the California Welfare Directors and 
California Department of Social Services Task Force, an association 
that significantly refurbished the statewide county reimbursement 
process. This development benefited not only the inhabitants of Santa 
Clara County but also positively affected those of all fifty-eight 
counties in California.
  Ruth's main interest is her desire to travel. Being of French 
descent, she is strongly attracted to the French culture and can be 
classified as a true Francophile. After her retirement, she will 
undoubtedly dedicate her time to exploring foreign countries and 
expressing her love for anything French.
  Ruth's outstanding achievements at the Social Services Agency were 
numerous, and their impact on Santa Clara County is immeasurable. Her 
ability to understand and employ the funding behind the provisions of 
public social services is astonishing. Where others might have merely 
done what was required of them, Ruth has gone above and beyond what her 
job description entailed to provide the Social Services Agency with 
more. efficient methods of serving the residents of Santa Clara County.
  I offer my congratulations to Ruth Onita Spake on her thirty-seven 
distinguished years of exceptional service to the Santa Clara 
community. Her dedication and sacrifice is the very definition of 
public service, and her tireless efforts to build and sustain the Santa 
Clara County Social Services Agency will forever be appreciated and 
remembered by all.

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