[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10932]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO RUTH GRIFFIN

 Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor one of New 
Hampshire's most revered and accomplished leaders, Ruth Lewin Griffin, 
as she celebrates her 90th birthday.
  Born in Fall River, MA, Ruth moved to Portsmouth, NH, at a young age 
and continues to reside there today. Most notably, she served as 
executive councilor for the third district of New Hampshire for 20 
years. As a testament to her continued commitment to the Granite State, 
Ruth currently serves as chairman of the Portsmouth Housing Authority.
  But Ruth's career of service began long before her time on the 
executive council. After graduating from Portsmouth High School, Ruth 
went on to pursue a degree from Wentworth Hospital School of Nursing. 
Using the skills she learned as a registered nurse, she dove headfirst 
into a career as a public servant, holding office as a State senator 
and State representative and serving on the Portsmouth Police 
Commission and board of education. She also served as a delegate to two 
Constitutional Conventions and as a Republican national committeewoman. 
Ruth has earned well-deserved praise for her service to our State, 
including being named one of New Hampshire's Ten Most Powerful Women 
for 6 years in a row, and most recently, she received the 2015 Granite 
State Legacy Award, which honors dedication to the State, its people, 
and way of life.
  In addition to her tremendous service to New Hampshire, Ruth has been 
blessed with a wonderful family, including the late John Griffin, five 
children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandsons. Four generations 
of the Griffin family have lived on their family farm, raising sheep, 
chickens, and other livestock. As the matriarch of the family, Ruth 
strives to teach her family members the values she learned on the 
farm--hard work, humility, and perseverance. She will often tell you, 
invoking her family motto, that she lives her life ``by courage, not by 
cunning.''
  Ruth embodies the spirit of a true New Hampshire leader. Her life is 
marked by her dedicated service and her devotion to making New 
Hampshire a better place to live and work. I had the privilege of 
serving alongside Ruth in the Governor's office and the attorney 
general's office and will be forever grateful for her wisdom, guidance, 
and mentorship. I am very proud to recognize and celebrate Ruth's 
birthday and her extraordinary contributions to the State. I wish Ruth 
and her family the best on this very special day and for many more 
years of health and happiness.

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