By Liesha Wessinger-Hufstetler
I am in typing class, sitting with anxious attentiveness, with my poised fingers above the keyboard, listening to the teacher call out” a-s-d-f- J-K L”, then the word “space.” No one could cheat and look down at the keyboard; it was all about the muscle memory of knowing where the keys were on the typewriter. If you made a mistake, it was on the paper, and there was no backspace to erase it.
The teacher was Ms. Jimmie Ruff, and typing was the best elective class I took in high school. If you mention the name Ms. Jimmie Ruff to those who know her, two words immediately come to mind: typing and Chapin football. She is now 91, and her memory is incredible. She grew up in the St. Phillips section of Newberry. She graduated from Newberry College with a degree in business education. While a college senior, CHS Principal John Addy and the school superintendent visited Newberry College in search of teachers. Ms. Jimmie Ruff signed up for the CHS team in 1952 and retired 50 years later in 2002.
One of her favorite stories is about Ray Frick. He told her that her typing class saved his life. When he was called up for service in the Vietnam era, the leader asked if anyone could type. Ray Frick raised his hand. Instead of being sent to the front lines of Vietnam, he was sent to Hawaii for 4 years.
She taught retired doctor C.W. Hendrix and Cecil Woolbright’s sons, Marty, Rex, and Roger. When asked about her favorite memories, she was quick to point out when Cecil Woolbright came to Chapin. She said, “he changed Chapin football, the team went from 1-10 to 10-1.” Woolbright led Chapin to the championships at Chapin in 1973-74. He led many victories over the years, including 10 years of wins over rival Mid Carolina.
Ms. Ruff taught probably hundreds of students in her 50 years at Chapin High School and made an incredible impact on their lives. She has seen Chapin grow. She said that Jenny Frick Cannon’s graduating class was only 16 people. When she started in 1952, the school had around 300 students. When the “new” high school was built, the maximum capacity was 500 students. The original gym was in the current cafeteria.
I will never forget, in typing class one day, after I turned in my attempt at the day’s assignment, she commented out loud to the whole class, “Liesha, you are Mary Frick’s daughter, and you ought to know there are 2 spaces, not one space between words.”
Yep, you were right, Ms. Ruff. I was not paying attention to those pesky spaces, but I promise you I finally got it right!
Thank you for all you have done for all of us!
