MONTROSE – Montrose resident Robb Ruyle's decades of service to his community recently got him recognition by the League of Women Voters of Montrose County.
Ruyle was chosen among five other applicants to be this year's Making Democracy Work Award recipient.
"It's always been important to me to try to pay the community back for what it's done for me and my family," Ruyle said in an interview with The Watch. "It's important to contribute and to make a better community, wherever you live."
The award was started by the national League of Women Voters to recognize community members who are actively involved in their communities.
Since moving to Montrose in 1982 to start a business, Ruyle has continued to do just that.
He served on the Montrose Chamber of Commerce board, co-founded the Montrose Manufacturers Association and served on the Montrose Economic Development Corporation board.
He started two businesses. First, a mail service company, and then, Powderhorn Industries, which he still owns and operates today in Montrose.
But the highlight of his service years was his involvement with the Montrose Regional Library, he said.
"It was able to be built without bonded debt," Ruyle said. "It was a creatively done project that made winners out of the city, the school district, the library — all the entities that were involved came out ahead."
Ruyle served on the library district board as trustee from 1990 to 2000, during which he served as president for seven years. He rejoined the board in 2007, serving as president again in 2009 and 2010, according to his nomination form.
He also currently serves on the Montrose Memorial Hospital, Inc. Board of Directors.
He said he enjoys serving on those boards and plans to continue to contribute to them in the years ahead.
"(Serving) is very rewarding," he said. "It gives you a chance to put back into your community, and to be a participating member of your community. There are so many opportunities for volunteerism, whether it is serving on a board or making food for someone at Christ's Kitchen. … With so many opportunities, we have to take advantage of them."
The League of Women Voters is a citizens' organization that takes a nonpartisan position on politics. The organization doesn't support candidates, but does support issues, and is a facilitator for many candidate debates and forums.
"I was thrilled to be recognized … but was very honored," Ruyle said. "The League of Women Voters is a quality organization and I like their nonpartisanship, so it was a real treat to be recognized by them."
Kati O'Hare at kohare@watchnewspapers.com or Tweet @katiohare
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