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NTA Family Remembers Ruth McKinney

October 25, 2012

Ruth McKinney, longtime NTA friend and supporter, passed away early Thursday morning. Recipient of the Bob Everidge Lifetime Achievement Award and a past chair of the National Tourism Foundation, Ruth worked tirelessly to support theRuthMcKinneyHead people and programs of NTA’s outreach.

"Ruth will be remembered by her NTA family as the ultimate volunteer at conventions," said past president Pete Anderson. "I will miss Ruth’s friendship deeply."

NTA President Lisa Simon recalled Ruth’s impact on her NTA family. "Ruth was a fireball of energy and passion for tourism, NTA and friends and family. She shaped our scholarship and student activities, and they live on in her memory today."

Ruth’s devotion to NTA—and her zest for life—were highlighted in a stirring essay by NTA Vice Chair Mark Hoffmann in the October Courier. In the essay, Hoffmann describes a box of NTA memories that Ruth gave him during a recent visit to her home in Kansas. His words about the box can be likened to Ruth herself.

"If you are lucky, perhaps you will receive a gift like Ruth’s box. It will be full of love and smiles and maybe a few tears," Hoffmann said. "It will remind you just how lucky we are to be in the business we are in-and to have the friends that we have."

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at the Erie Christian Church in Erie, Kan. 

Memorials are suggested to the Mem-Erie Museum or the First Christian Church in Erie. These may mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

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