Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
When the Heidelberg Student Princes defeated Fort Valley State in the 1972 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, it capped off an outstanding season of teamwork for Heidelberg. It also spotlighted the team's most valuable player and leader, quarterback Jim Ruth.
From 1970-74, Jim Ruth became one of the best to ever play the game at Heidelberg College.
With Ruth at the helm the Student Princes won 18 straight games under Head Coach Pete Riesen.
Playing in every game from his freshman season on, Ruth completed 339 of 645 passes for 4, 502 yards and 31 touchdowns. The championship season of '72 saw Ruth complete over 50 percent of his passes for 2, 171 yards and 19 touchdowns. Including an 8 of 22 performance for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the 28-13 victory over Fort Valley State in the Stagg Bowl.
An All-Ohio Athletic Conference performer in 1972 and '73, Ruth was named one of the outstanding College Athletes of America in 1972 and recognized in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1973 and '74.
Following his senior season Ruth was picked to participate in the annual East - West Ohio Shrine All -Star game in Columbus.
A catcher on the 'Berg baseball team, Ruth was a four-year starter. Ruth taught at Tiffin Calvert High School for one year after his graduation from Heidelberg in 1974. He returned to Heidelberg as an assistant football coach in 1975 while he did his graduate work at Bowling Green State University. In 1976 Ruth was appointed head wrestling coach at Heidelberg. Ruth left Heidelberg in 1977 to accept a teaching and coaching position at Galion High School.
In 1980 he accepted a sales position with Central Soya Inc. before moving to Florida to join a family business in 1981.
Ruth returned to Galion High School as teacher and coach earlier this year.
(This profile appeared in the 1987 Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
