9 3 8 – 4 0 . ▁Chap el ▁Hill , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 3 ▁Ruth ▁was ▁the ▁North ▁Carolina ▁High ▁School ▁tennis ▁champion ▁( sing les ). ▁ ▁While ▁at ▁UN C , ▁Chap el ▁Hill ▁Ruth ▁was ▁a ▁basketball ▁stand out , ▁serving ▁as ▁captain ▁of ▁the ▁Tar ▁He el ▁team ▁in ▁both ▁his ▁Junior ▁and ▁Senior ▁years ▁( 1 9 3 6 – 3 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 3 7 – 3 8 ). ▁ ▁He ▁subsequently ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Navy . ▁Ruth ▁was ▁head ▁basketball ▁coach ▁and ▁director ▁of ▁athlet ics ▁at ▁C ata w ba ▁College ▁in ▁Sal is bury , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 0 . ▁From ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Dean ▁of ▁Stud ents ▁there . ▁He ▁was ▁member ▁of ▁Sal is bury ▁City ▁Council ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁ ▁serving ▁as ▁mayor ▁pro ▁temp ore ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 8 . ▁ ▁Ruth ▁was ▁elected ▁as ▁a ▁Republican ▁to ▁the ▁Nin ety - first ▁and ▁to ▁the ▁two ▁succeed ing ▁Congress es ▁( J anu ary ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁– ▁January ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 7 5 ). ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁an ▁un success ful ▁candidate ▁for ▁re - e lection ▁to ▁the ▁Nin ety