Freedom Ride driver shares his story

Jim Ruth

We are always so excited when people call and say they've heard about us on the radio, TV or newspaper, but it was an especially nice surprise to get a call a week ago from Mr. Jim Ruth. He had heard about our new exhibit on Channel 3 news (a short sound bite they had picked up from the AP).

Mr. Ruth began to tell me his story... of being the youngest driver Trailways ever hired in Nashville .... that he was the first driver to take a group of Freedom Riders from Nashville to Jackson, Miss in 1961. ... and he was and still is a resident of West Tennessee.  What a find! Or rather what a blessing that he found us!

Mr. Ruth autographs a picture of himself for Tennessee State Museum Curator of Social History Graham Perry during the installation of the exhibit "We Shall Not Be Moved: 50th Anniversary of Tennessee's Civil Rights Sit-Ins" at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center December 8, 2011.

He was coming through Brownsville the next day and wanted to stop and see the exhibit. I explained the curator of the exhibit would be here and I was sure would want to meet him. I also invited him to come back on Friday for our Opening Reception. He immediately accepted.

The next day Mr, Ruth shows up with memorabilia of his early days with Trailways and other Freedom Ride artifacts. I couldn't help but ask if we could include them as part of our companion exhibit and happily he agreed to leave them.

Mr. Ruth tells his story to O. G. Stewart at the Opening Reception of "We Shall Not Be Moved" Friday evening, December 9, 2011.

This gracious man is full of interesting stories, but what stands out more than anything is the fact that he considers it a privilege to have driven that bus. He was doing his part for his fellow man in a day and time when he was certainly ridiculed and in mortal danger. Luckily the ride went smoothly and everyone remained safe on this particular voyage. Other Freedom rides were not so lucky.

Ruth's memorabilia, from the 1961 experience and recent honors, on exhibit at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center.

Within the last year, Mr. Ruth has had opportunity to reunited with several of those who shared that ride in 1961. He says they were the best group he'd ever driven. From what I hear they seem to be as complimentary of him as he is them.