Ruth Current Named to N.C. Agriculture Hall of Fame

From an Oct. 7, 1976 press release from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture

RALEIGH--The late Miss Ruth A. Current was enshrined here Thursday in the North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame.

During her career Miss Current served as a dietician, home economics teacher and with the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. In 1957, she was named assistant director of the Extension Service in charge of the state’s home economics program. She retired in 1961.

In presiding over the enshrinement, Agricultural Commissioner James A. Graham praised Miss Current for a lifetime of service to North Carolina agriculture through teaching, working with the young and instructing the people in the field of home economics.

“She was a grand lady, expert administrator, and a credit to her profession,” Graham said.

Miss Current’s education was broad. She studied at Meredith, Madison and Peabody Colleges and at Columbia and N.C. State University. In addition to home economics, she majored in sociology and adult education.

During her life the Rowan County native has received numerous recognitions and awards including Woman of the Year by the Progressive Farmer magazine, Carolina’s Farm Leader, Tarheel of the Week, Woman of the Year by Chi Omega Sorority and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Superior Service Award.

Presenting the Hall of Fame citation were Mrs. Charles Graham, past president of the North Carolina Extension Homemakers Association; Miss Lorna Langley, state agent, home economics, emeritus, N.C. Agricultural Extension Service; and Mrs. Josephine Patterson, district Extension agent, N.C. Agricultural Extension Service.