A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of benjamin s. "ben" ruffin, jr., former chair of the board of governors of the university of north carolina.
Whereas, Benjamin S. "Ben" Ruffin, Jr. was born in Durham, North Carolina, on December 11, 1941, to Benjamin S. Ruffin, Sr. and Catherine Ruffin; and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin graduated from Hillside High School in 1960, earned a bachelor's degree in political science at North Carolina Central University in 1964 and later completed the requirements for a masters degree in social work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, after graduating from college, Ben Ruffin worked for a number of community‑activist organizations which sought to improve the housing, employment, and education of low‑income residents in Durham, including the Durham Housing Authority, UDI Community Development Corporation, and Operation Breakthrough; and
Whereas, in 1977, Ben Ruffin was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt as the Director of the North Carolina Human Relations Council and in 1978 was selected to serve as Governor Hunt's special assistant for minority affairs, a position he held until 1984; and
Whereas, during his time in the Hunt administration, Ben Ruffin was successful in expanding the number of African‑American judges and State employees in North Carolina; and
Whereas, after leaving the Hunt administration, Ben Ruffin achieved success and recognition as an executive for a number of nationally recognized companies becoming a role model and mentor for countless young professionals, especially young African‑American men; and
Whereas, in 1984, Ben Ruffin was appointed Vice President and Special Assistant to the President of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company; and
Whereas, in 1986, Ben Ruffin was appointed as Director of Corporate Affairs for RJR Nabisco; and
Whereas, in 1989, Ben Ruffin became the Vice President of Corporate Affairs for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company; and
Whereas, in 1999, Ben Ruffin established The Ruffin Group, a governmental relations, public affairs, and community relations company, and served as the company's President and Chief Executive Officer; and
Whereas, throughout his entire life, Ben Ruffin showed an outstanding devotion to public service; and
Whereas, in 1991, Ben Ruffin was appointed to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina (UNC) and in 1998 was elected as the Board's first African‑American Chair, a position he held until 2003; and
Whereas, during Ben Ruffin's tenure on the Board of Governors most of the universities in the UNC system saw vast improvements on their campuses as a result of the $3.1 billion capital campaign that he vigorously championed; and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin was an effective leader in many civic and community organizations, serving as Chair of the Corporate Roundtable of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, Chair of the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development, and First Vice‑chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the National Urban League, the YMCA of Greater Winston‑Salem, and the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina; and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin was a member of several fraternal organizations, including the Masons and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin received numerous honors for his devotion and commitment to public service, including eight honorary degrees, the NAACP's Kelly Miller Humanitarian Award, the Association of North Carolina Black County Officials' Frederick Douglass Leadership Award, and the National Urban League's Donald H. McGannan Citation, and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin was honored posthumously by North Carolina Central University when a new dormitory was named for him; and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin died on December 7, 2006, at the age of 64; and
Whereas, Ben Ruffin is survived by his wife, Avon Long Ruffin and two daughters, April and Benita; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Benjamin S. Ruffin, Jr. and expresses the gratitude of this State and its citizens for his life and his service.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends it deepest sympathy to the family of Benjamin S. Ruffin, Jr. for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Benjamin S. Ruffin, Jr.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.