MaryRuth is a West Point native and a retired Professional Board Certified School Counselor. She joined the museum board in 2019, after volunteering with the Black Prairie Blues Festival for several years and a regular attendee since its inception. A lifelong lover of music, especially blues, she is pleased to be a member of the BPBM board and help to facilitate the support and promotion of blues musicians and blues music. She has three children and four grandchildren in whom she delights.