[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 132 (Thursday, September 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING RUTH D. HUNT'S 60TH BIRTHDAY AND INDUCTION INTO THE 
                  DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute and congratulate my 
dear friend Ruth Hunt in celebration of her 60th Birthday and her 
induction into the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
  On Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, friends, family 
and colleagues will gather at Gran Piatto d'Oro in Harlem and at 
Michael Anthony's in Newport Marina on the Hudson to salute and pay 
tribute to this remarkable African American woman of excellence.
  In 1949, John and E. Patricia Hunt gave birth to their third child, 
Ruth at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. She and her eight 
siblings grew up in the Albany Houses on Troy Avenue. Ruth received a 
public school education at Isaac Newton P.S. 83, John Marshall Jr. High 
School 210 and graduated from the High School of Fashion Industries in 
New York City. Ruth also attended and graduated from the Vogue School 
of Charm and Modeling in Brooklyn in 1967, and began a professional 
modeling career at 17 years old. She completed her higher education at 
Brooklyn College and at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) 
Manhattan.
  Ruth was the first woman of color to model in the swimwear industry 
on Manhattan's 7th Avenue breaking barriers at Sirena Swimwear, Cole of 
California and Gottex of Israel. On the runway, Ms. Hunt modeled along 
with supermodels Naomi Simms and Iman. She was a Bill Blass model for 
both his Robes and Furs Collections. As a fashion expert, she was one 
of the first Fit models of color and since 1970; she has been 
represented by Model Service Agency. Ruth was the number one pick for 
JC Penney's Fit and has modeled for them over 20 years.
  As a Fit model, she advises designers and technical teams of clothing 
manufacturers in the area of quality standards and fit, correcting 
pattern specifications to ensure the proper fit of imported and 
domestic garments before mass production. She has modeled for over 100 
clothing Designers, and manufacturers including Essence by Mail and 
numerous fashion designer houses on 7th Avenue, including Calvin Klein 
and NYC's top department stores and industry trade shows.
  Ruth Hunt joined and worked for the Jackie Robinson Foundation from 
its inception in 1977 and was privileged to be mentored by the 
illustrious Rachel Robinson. It was at the Foundation that Ruth learned 
the true meaning of service and humanity. Ruth developed and executed 
her skills in project management, where she coordinated special events 
and fund raisers, like the famous annual ``Afternoon of Jazz'' on the 
Jackie and Rachel Robinson estate in Stamford, Connecticut and the 
Jackie Robinson Foundation Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New 
York City.
  She continues to enjoy and cherishes the relationship with the 
Robinson family.
  This experience propelled her into philanthropic efforts with the 
Doll League, Inc; Meharry Alumni; Women and AIDS Resource Network, 
American Cancer Society; American Lung Association, the Leukemia 
Society and Alvin Ailey Dance Company. All of these organizations have 
been beneficiaries of Ruth's time and expertise.
  During her illustrious career, she also launched ``Ruth Hunt 
Associates'' and began a millinery business that travels the eastern 
seaboard and was featured in the Roanoke Times, Jersey Journal and the 
Tribute. Known as the ``Hat Lady'' in the tri-state area, Ruth has been 
featured at numerous churches throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and 
Manhattan, including her very own Abyssinian Baptist Church, where she 
is a member.
  Ms. Hunt is a certified Image Consultant, Beauty Advisor and Model 
Coach. Drawing from her early days as an instructor for the Vogue 
School of Charm and Modeling and throughout her career she has 
conducted workshops for numerous New York City organizations such as: 
Youth and Action; Young Unwed Mothers; Young Peoples Association; The 
New Muse; Jack and Jill of America; Girl Friends, Inc; The Delta's 
Youth; NYC Technical College; Zeta Amicae of Brooklyn; and Professional 
Re-employment and Outplacement Services.
  Madam Speaker: Ruth D. Hunt is not only celebrating her 60th birthday 
and an illustrious career, but she is scheduled to be inducted into the 
Daughters of the Revolution this coming October. To become a member of 
this society, you have to prove your lineal, bloodline descent from an 
ancestor who aided in achieving American Independence, and through her 
love of genealogy she was able to trace her heritage. One of the 
highlights of Ruth's quest for retracing her family history came in 
1997 when Ruth gave her father a gift of life. She was able to find her 
father's long lost World War II son, Barry in Wales, England. The 
family now enjoys an international relationship from across the ocean 
and today, Ruth conducts genealogy workshops for the New York Coalition 
of One Hundred Black Women, Convent Baptist Church, Woodhull Medical 
Center and Bellevue Hospital Center.
  Continuing in her commitment to service and humanity at the New York 
City Health & Hospital Corporation (HHC), Ruth served as Coordinating 
Manager In Public Affairs and then as the Director of Marketing and 
Community Outreach at both Woodhull Hospital Center and Cumberland 
Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Ruth currently serves as the Assistant 
Director of Public Relations and Director of Community Affairs at the 
oldest public hospital in the country, Bellevue Medical Center. She has 
led the charge at Bellevue and helped raise over $80,000 for the 
American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society.
  Ruth also received KISS-FM's Phenomenal Woman Award. This honor 
stemmed from a live radio broadcast at Woodhull Medical Center for 
``Take Your Love One to the Doctor Day,'' which generated over 500 
screenings. In addition, she supported the Borough President's ``Take 
Your Man to the Doctor Day.'' To commemorate National Cancer Survivor's 
Day, at Woodhull, Ruth produced four of her well known, signature, hat 
fashion shows which included a luncheon.
  Let us congratulate and salute this remarkable African American woman 
of excellence and distinction as we celebrate the 60th birthday and 
induction into the Daughters of the American Revolution of my dear 
friend Ruth D. Hunt.

                          ____________________