“In junior high, they tell you if you’re going to play football, you’ve got to go out for track,” Ruggles said. “I didn’t like running, so they said, ‘Why don’t you try the shot put?’ ”
No one gave him much of a chance his senior season because of his size, but then again, no one at that time would have bet against a Wildcat. From 1941 to 1960, the last season before Springfield split into North and South high schools, the Wildcats won 19 individual state championships and two team titles (1957-58).
Ruggles had company atop the medal stand in 1960. Eddie White won the high jump, and Tom Fugate won the 440-yard dash.
“The stars were just right,” said Ralph’s wife Holly, a teacher at Bellefontaine High School. “It just happened to be a good group of guys in the right time and right place.”
“I’m not very big,” Ralph said. “I’m maybe 5-10 and 200 pounds. To be in the finals with guys that were 5 inches taller and outweighed me by 30 or 40 pounds, that was a big thrill.”
Ruggles and the class of 1960 will celebrate their 50th reunion Aug. 6-7 in Springfield. It’s easy for Ruggles to remember the great times, especially on the track and football field, because he still owns a giant scrapbook full of newspaper clippings, letters and mementos.
Downstairs at their home just north of West Liberty, the Ruggles also pay tribute to their four sons — Nathan, Dan, Adam and Luke, all graduates of West Liberty-Salem — with a wall of sports photos. Dan was a team MVP for the West Liberty football team and played at Marietta College.
Ralph also played football at Springfield, starting for the undefeated 1959 team as a senior. His career continued at the University of Michigan, until a freshman-year injury ended his career. He enrolled at Wittenberg before leaving for the Air Force. Ruggles eventually completed his degree at Wittenberg and was a teacher for 20 years, at Clark Middle School and Snowhill Elementary.
Ralph and Holly have been married for 42 years.
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