Ruth L. Hine

MADISON -- Ruth L. Hine, age 86, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at her Gallery Apartment in Oakwood Village West, Madison. Ruth was born on August 19, 1923, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Ruth and Carl Hine. She studied zoology at Connecticut College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1944. After working as a graduate research assistant at Connecticut College and at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, she moved to Madison in 1946 to pursue her Masters (1947) and Doctorate (1949) degrees at the University of Wisconsin, receiving the first PhD in zoology awarded to a woman by UW. Dr. Hine then embarked on a 35-year career with the State of Wisconsin's Conservation Bureau, later renamed the Department of Natural Resources. She served first as a technical editor in the Bureau of Research, and distinguished herself in an otherwise male-dominated field, ultimately becoming the Chief of the Public Information and Publications section of the DNR Bureau of Research. Under Dr. Hine's leadership, DNR publications received widespread acclaim. In May 1966, the Wisconsin State Journal described some of these honors, noting, ""It is not without significance that all of Wisconsin's blue-ribbon monographs have been edited by the incomparable Ruth Hine, who has the unique ability to combine a PhD in zoology with a felicity of expression."" Ruth also played a key role in developing of Wisconsin's endangered species program, chairing the committee that developed the state's first endangered species list. Her efforts led to the Legislature's establishment of the Bureau of Endangered Resources. Ruth then worked to launch a foundation to support the endangered species program. After her retirement in 1984, Ruth remained active in conservation work, helping to establish Bethel Horizons Retreat Center and its Nature Program. She prepared educational materials, trained volunteer guides, and created prairie and wetland habitat restoration areas on the Horizons property. Among Dr. Hine's many awards and honors are: the American Motors Conservation Award (1962); election as a Fellow of the Soil Conservation Society of America (1968); the Silver Acorn Award for outstanding effort and achievement in conservation work, from the Citizens Natural Resources Association of Wisconsin (1974); the Stephen T. Mather Award from the National Parks Conservation Association (1984); the Wisconsin Award for contributions to the conservation of Wisconsin's wildlife resources, from the state's chapter of the Wildlife Society (1985); and Environmentalist of the Year by the Madison Audubon Society (1991). A few months before her death, Ruth was elected to the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame, and will be inducted posthumously on April 24, 2010. Ruth is survived by her dearest friend and companion, Hazel Hiemstra of Madison, her sister-in-law, Jan Hine, and six nephews and a niece. A memorial service is planned for Friday, April 23, 2010, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison at 2:00 p.m.. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Horizons Retreat Center, Bethel Lutheran Church of Madison, or Oakwood Foundation.