If you have been a Scout or a part of Scouting in the Palmetto Council within the last 20 years, then you know Mrs. Ruth Davis. Originally from Long Island, New York, Mrs. Ruth became involved in Scouts when her two twin sons were young. There were no packs in her local area, so she started a unit in her home and quickly took on the role as Cubmaster. Mrs. Ruth says it was an easy decision to place her boys in Scouts as she wanted them to build character and learn survival skills. While her sons never achieved the rank of Eagle, Mrs. Ruth continued to be involved in Scouting, moving her way up through leadership within her local council, eventually becoming a Commissioner.
Before moving to Spartanburg, SC to be closer to family 20 years ago, Mrs. Ruth had been a volunteer medic with the Gordon Heights Fire Department in New York since 1968. Her work in the healthcare field followed her to Spartanburg as well, where she retired from St. Frances Medical Center. As an active member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (located directly across the street from the Palmetto Council Service Center and staff offices), Mrs. Ruth was excited when the church wanted to renew their charter with the Council and start a new Pack and Troop. Known as Pack 106 and Troop 106, Mrs. Ruth has dedicated countless hours to teaching these Scouts to become better young men and women while also instilling in them core concepts of Scouting such as survival skills.
Mrs. Ruth has served as the District Commissioner for the Council’s Daniel Morgan District for several years and continues to play a pivotal role in the lives of Scouts. While females were a part of Scouting previously as Explorers and Venturers, when BSA decided to officially allow young women to become a part of the Nationally recognized program, Mrs. Ruth said “It’s about time!” She believes everyone deserves the right to learn survival skills. Scouts teach today’s young people how to handle a stressful situation by preparing them mentally, physically, and emotionally. For parents who may be hesitant about your child joining a Cub Scout Pack or Scouts BSA Troop, Mrs. Ruth says “What if there was another Hurricane Katrina, or other type of disaster? You would want your child to be prepared. Having the skills to survive in a situation like that can prepare young people for life.”
As a mom to two sons, Mrs. Ruth’s motto has always been “Raising Boys to a Higher Standard.” Through her dedication and work as a Scout leader, Mrs. Ruth has had the privilege of awarding 11 Eagle Scouts through her units. For her, it is all about building a stronger bond between families and encouraging them to become a part of something greater than themselves. In 2022, Mrs. Ruth was awarded the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change by the Spartanburg County Foundation. While her accomplishments are worthy of acknowledging, Mrs. Ruth says she likes to stay behind the scenes. After all, it is not about her, but about the Scouts’ accomplishments and their success toward becoming better young men and women.
During the interview with Mrs. Ruth she mentioned her favorite Bible Verse, Psalms 23:1. For her, this verse applies to her faith, but also to her role as a Scout leader.
