Green Pond native inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame

By Daniel L. Bamberg

She was born in Green Pond in 1913 and graduated from the Alabama College for Women (now the University of Montevallo). Following her introductions to life and then into adulthood Ada Ruth Stovall went on a path, which would land her in the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame for 2011.

Milla Boschung of the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Alabama inducted her in a March 10, ceremony held at Judson College in Marion.
"Ruth established herself as a pioneer for women and was a true Southern lady," said Boschung.

Stovall became renowned for enacting certain legislation in education as well as her extensive classroom work and authorship of text books.

After teaching home economics at the high school level, in three separate high schools Stovall was appointed District Supervisor of Home Economics over twelve Southwestern counties by the Alabama Department of Education. At the time, she was only 28 years old. Later she served as Assistant and Associate Supervisor in Home Economics for the state.

In 1950, Stovall became the State Supervisor of Vocational Home Economics in the State Department of Education. She would work in that position for 22 years.  She visited high school classes regularly, judged science fairs and spoke in front of local and national organizations. This eventually lead her to national recognition.

She served on the boards of "Future Homemakers of America" and "Forecast Magazine." She was listed in "Who's Who in American Education" and in 1954 was named "Woman of the Year" by "Progressive Farmer Magazine." By 1956 Stovall was a member of the national advisory board of "New Homemakers of America" and served on the board of "Seventeen Magazine" from 1957-1959.

In 1958 Stovall was recognized as “Alumna of the Year,” by Alabama College of Women. The award of “Honorary Life Membership” in the American Vocational Association in 1961 was evidence of her national and professional influence in.

In 1976 the American Vocational Association awarded the “Outstanding Service Award” to Stovall. She was included as one of the nationwide ""Seventy Significant Leaders in Home Economics Education" in 1982 and received the "Alabama Women of Leadership Award" in 1989.
Stovall was inducted as a charter member of the "Alabama Vocational Association Hall of Fame" in 1990 and the University of Montevallo awarded her its "Distinguished Home Economics Alumni Award" in 1991.

Stovall passed away in 2008 but her legacy of influence continues at the national education level as her life certainly helped shape pride for citizens of Alabama and Green Pond.