Elizabeth “Beth” Ruyle-Hullinger was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She was adopted at birth by Daniel and Mae Coley Smith of Covington, Georgia, then raised in St. Petersburg and Sarasota, Florida. She attended St. Petersburg Junior College and then the University of Florida, graduating in 1968.
She married Richard Ruyle and moved to Atlanta. Her daughter Leigh Ann was born and they divorced soon after. Beth trained as a teacher, then worked for the Center for Disease Control and the Atlanta Regional Commission, where she helped plan programs that substantially improved the metropolitan region. In 1975, she proudly earned her Masters in Public Administration at the University of Georgia, making her a pioneer of the feminist movement. She is also a Georgia Dawg, a Florida Gator, and a scorpion by birthdate.
Moving to Chicagoland in 1978, Beth took the job as Executive Director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), an organization of forty municipalities south of Chicago. She conceived and implemented numerous plans and strategies that improved the south suburbs as well as the Chicago metropolitan region. Her numerous projects included flood control, transportation improvements, drug enforcement, purchase programs, insuring emergency services, and the proposed third Chicago metropolitan airport. She worked over twenty-two years for SSMMA and made it a leading governmental organization. She was honored with a Congressional Resolution, as State of Illinois Resolution, and resolutions by her suburban governments. She was chosen one of Chicago's 100 most influential women in Crain's Chicago Business.
During this time, she met and married her husband, Craig Hullinger, a city planner who shared her goals of good governance, city improvement and love of international travel. Craig brought two sons, Clint and Bret, to the family.
Beth then became a Financial Advisor for Ehlers Incorporated. She participated in numerous urban redevelopment efforts, providing municipalities with tax increment financing.
Moving to Peoria, Illinois, Beth and Craig formed Ruyle-Hullinger and Associates, a consulting practice specializing in city planning, urban redevelopment and tax increment financing to a number of Illinois municipalities.
Beth and Craig retired to Sarasota, Florida. Beth was elected as President of the Sarasota Sister Cities Association, serving several terms, and led exchanges with sister cities Vladimir, Russia; Perpignon, France; Tel Mond, Israel; Merida, Mexico; Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland; Busseto, Italy; Dunfermline, Scotland; and Xiamen, China. She also served on the Board of the Sarasota Chapter of Military Officers.
Beth is survived by her husband Craig Hullinger, daughter Leigh Ann Masen, son Bret Hullinger, sisters Serena Windham and Gordenia Murdoch, sisters-in-law Anne Hullinger and Barbara Hullinger, brother-in-law Scott Hullinger, nephews and nieces Derek, Amber, Christy, Eric, Maddie, Krystina, Alex, and Shane.
Services are private. She will be buried at the Sarasota National Cemetery, https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/sarasota.asp.
If you wish you can donate to your favorite charity in her name.
Monterey, CA July 2024
https://dodugaru.blogspot.com/
Beth was President of Sarasota Sister Cities and led
numerous exchanges to and from our Sister Cities
Dunfermline, Scotland
Saying Goodbye to Our Great Vladimir, Russia Hosts
Angkor Wat Sunrise
Our Gang at our 70th Birthday Party at the Bradenton, Florida Marine Corps Ball. Looking Good!
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| Nice lady surrounded by Giants |
.jpg)
Beth and I were prepared for Hurricane Irma in 2017,
in the closet with our motorcycle helmets on.
Beth and I fly Space Available on military planes. This is a CH-47 helicopter inside of an Air Force C-17. The Helo was Coming Home From Afghanistan via Rota, Spain to South Carolina. Thanks to the Army and Air Force for bringing us home. Nice trip.
Our Photos and Blogs
2024 Alaska Cruise, Victoria, Vancouver, Washingon, Oregon July 1-Aug 6
Pacific Northwest Aug 2021, Covid-19!
Panana Canal 2019-20 panamacanal2020.blogspot.com
North Atlantic 2019 northatlantichullinger.blogspot.com
France 2019 perpignansarasota.blogspot.com
Around the world 2019 aroundtheworldruhu.blogspot.com
Ascension Island 2019 ascensionspacea.blogspot.com
Spain 2018 southofspain.blogspot.com
West Coast 2018 westcoast2018.blogspot.com
France 2017 perpignanfrance.blogspot.com
Africa 2016 africaislovely.blogspot.com
Scotland 2016 dunfermlinesarasota.blogspot.com
Corner to Corner 2016 floridatoseattle.blogspot.com
Around the World 2015 aroundtheworldspacea.blogspot.com
Israel 2014 telmondsarasota.blogspot.com
Turkey 2014 turkeyhullinger.blogspot.com
Russia 2013 vladimirsarasota.blogspot.com
China 2010 peoriachina.blogspot.com
Egypt 2007 amunegypt.blogspot.com
Sabbatical 2003 sabbaticalruhu.blogspot.com
photossarasotasistercities.blogspot.com
morganparkphotoblog.blogspot.com
June 2021 - Thanks for the photo, Betty
More about Beth at https://elizabethruyle.blogspot.com
and https://bethruyle.blogspot.com/
More photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bfeUTxju6skDXojM6
Juneau, Alaska Aug 3, 2024
Beth found her sisters later in life
She found her sister Serena through the Georgia Adoption Agency
Click to read the story
https://serenabeth.blogspot.com/
She found her Sister Gordenia Through DNA
Click to read the story
https://gorserbet.blogspot.com/
State of Illinois
91_HR0502
LRB9109643CBcb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Beth Ruyle has
3 announced her resignation as Executive Director of the South
4 Suburban Mayors and Managers Association after 21 years of
5 service; and
6 WHEREAS, Her resignation is effective January 1, 2000;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, She has had many accomplishments as Executive
9 Director, including her dedication to fight for the third
10 regional airport in the South Suburbs; and
11 WHEREAS, Beth Ruyle is well respected throughout the
12 Metropolitan Chicago area; and
13 WHEREAS, She is affiliated with the Illinois City
14 Management Association, the Metro City Management
15 Association, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Chiefs of
16 Police of the Southern Suburbs, the Urban Innovations Project
17 Advisory Council, the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce,
18 and the Cook County Census Committee; and
19 WHEREAS, She has received numerous awards, including the
20 Urban Innovations Award for Employee Assistance Program, the
21 South Suburban Drug Enforcement Program, and Honorable
22 Mention in Urban Innovations by the Municipal Bond Bank; and
23 WHEREAS, Ms. Ruyle will be joining the firm of Ehlers and
24 Associates, a financial consulting firm; therefore, be it
25 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
26 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
27 we congratulate Beth Ruyle on her numerous accomplishments
28 and achievements as Executive Director of the South Suburban
29 Mayors and Managers Association and extend our best wishes to
30 her in her future with Ehlers and Associates; and be it
-2- LRB9109643CBcb
1 further
2 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to Beth Ruyle as an expression of our esteem.https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet91/hrgroups/hr/910HR0502LV.html
