Laws, Ruth Mitchell, 1912-2010

Dr. Ruth Mitchell Laws, of Dover, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010. She was the seventh of eight children born to the late Rev. Charles S. and Clare Mitchell, of Gatesville, N.C., on July 25, 1912. A pioneer and a legend, Dr. Laws was far ahead of her time. As such, she accomplished a number of "firsts" during her lifetime. She was the first female in the country to earn a doctorate in Administration and Supervision. She was also the first minority professional to gain employment at the former Delaware Department of Public Instruction (now Department of Education). Dr. Laws was the first inductee the first year of the Delaware Women's Hall of Fame. In 1986, she was the first minority female to be inducted as DE Mother of the Year. Dr. Laws has held a host of professional positions including teacher of Home Economics, Head of the Home Economics Department at DE State College (now University), Asst State Supervisor of Home Economics, State Supervisor of Home Economics, State Supervisor of Research and Planning in Vocational Education, and State Director of Adult & Continuing Education. She directed the student organization of New Homemakers of America. Her last position was Vice President for Research & Development at Delaware Technical & Community College. During her 43 year career, Dr. Laws secured the first federal funds for Head Start and Migrant Education programs in the State of Delaware. She also conducted research leading to enabling legislation and funding for creation of Delaware Technical & Community College. In recognition of her work with Head Start, Lady Byrd Johnson invited her to the White House. Dr. Laws has been recognized by a number of former Delaware governors along with the Delaware Bar Association for her work in government and civic concerns. For more than eighteen years she served as Secretary for the Delaware division, US Commission on Civil Rights. Over the years, she was appointed to several state commissions including the Commission on Children and Youth and the Commission on Aging. Substantial involvement with church and church related organizations included most committees and boards of the Peninsula Conference of the United Methodist Church, local and national Church Women United, Delmarva Ecumenical Agency, United Methodist Women, the Central Delaware and national YMCA, and local church committees at Whatcoat United Methodist Church of Dover. She was a member of a host of social, civic, and professional organizations - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Phi Delta Kappa National Honor Fraternity in Education, American Mothers, NAACP, AAUW, League of Women Voters, the Alphabettes, Dover Century Club, and a host of honor societies.