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Central and Southside Virginia lost one of their longtime advocates on Saturday. The family of Frank Ruff Jr. announced the retired Virginia State Senator had passed away at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer.

“Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother who will be remembered for his service to the community and Southside Virginia,” the Ruff family said in a statement to The Dispatch. “The family extends sincere gratitude for the outpouring of sympathy and support during this difficult time.” 

The family confirmed that the Clarksville resident, who had served first in the Virginia House and then the State Senate from 1994 to 2023, passed away peacefully Saturday at his home, surrounded by his loved ones. The family promised to release details about a memorial service soon. 

Looking back over Ruff’s life

Earlier this year, the Assembly and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin renamed the Center for Rural Virginia in Ruff’s honor. And during that ceremony, Youngkin labeled the former State Senator as “a lifetime servant leader”. When you look back on decades of work done by Frank Ruff, that’s what you keep coming back to, his servant leadership. That Center for Rural Virginia? He helped found it. He’s served as both a member and chairman of the board of directors at different times for the Tobacco Commission, advocating for the group to fund projects in our region. An example of that comes from this fall. Newly chosen as chairman, Ruff gave his support to a new pilot program, one dedicated to setting up affordable housing. Another project approved during his time on the board was designed to help farmers learn how to market and promote their projects. 

And that doesn’t include his time in the General Assembly. Frank Ruff was elected to his first term in the House of Delegates back in 1994 and stayed until 2000 as the District 61 representative. Then in November 2000, he moved over and ran for the State Senate in District 15. Thanks to the redrawn electoral maps, Ruff got moved into the District 9 area, and so he ran for this seat, winning in a landslide. 

During his time in office, Ruff fought to keep the moratorium in place on uranium mining. He filed bills to provide funding for FFA, the Center for Rural Virginia, the Wildlife Damage Cooperative Fund, the Forest Sustainability Fund, soil and water conservation districts, Virginia Cooperative Extension and the state’s agricultural best management practices cost-share program. Frank Ruff also filed bills to help create Virginia’s Century Forest Program and pushed for the state to legalize the use of industrial hemp.  

One of the most recent projects Ruff pushed through before retiring involved the Amish. In the wake of multiple buggy crashes in our area, Ruff filed and got Senate Bill 938 approved and signed into law. That bill says if you have an animal-drawn vehicle on the road, you’re required to have lights or reflectors on it, to alert other drivers to your presence. That bill symbolized a lot about Ruff’s tenure in the Assembly. He saw a problem and worked with both Republicans and Democrats to fix it. 

Paying tribute to Frank Ruff

This fall, some of Ruff’s work was recognized in a legislative lifetime achievement award, given out by the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC). At the time, group members pointed out in addition to the things mentioned above, he also helped found and fund GO Virginia (the state’s economic development arm, split up into regions). 

“Senator Ruff’s efforts to help make communities the best they can be extends far and wide,” said VAPDC Past President Kim Callis, when presenting the award earlier this fall. “Particularly, his work in the areas of economic development, education and workforce development stand out. He has long been an advocate for rural areas of the state.”

On Saturday, Gov. Youngkin issued a statement, thanking Ruff for his decades of work. 

“Virginia has lost a legend of public service whose legacy will be felt across the Commonwealth not for years—but generations to come. Senator Frank Ruff has always believed that his public service was about finding good policy solutions to improve the lives of Virginians in rural communities.

“Frank’s decades of service to the people of Virginia—spanning the General Assembly since 1993, the Mecklenburg Board of Supervisors before that, and finally as a citizen member and chairman of the Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission—are matched by few but have inspired many.

“This year, I had the profound honor of signing unanimously approved legislation to rename the Rural Center, which he founded, in his honor. Suzanne and I ask all Virginians to join us in keeping his wife Jessie, their children, grandchildren, and all of his family and friends in our heartfelt prayers.”

Friends, co-workers remember Ruff

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said one of the highest honors was to be called Ruff’s friend.

“Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former State Senator Frank Ruff,” Miyares said Saturday. “One of the gentlest, kindest people you would want to meet and a man whose generosity and integrity were exemplary. A true legend.”

Tammy Mulchi, who worked for Ruff 14 years as a legislative aide and later became his successor in the State Senate, said Ruff leaves behind a legacy to be proud of.

“My personal loss is indescribable with the passing of one of the most honorable man I have ever known. Senator Frank Ruff was not just a former employer but a lifelong friend, mentor, and father figure to me,” Mulchi said. “While he leaves behind a legacy of successes in Southside Virginia and the entire state like few ever have, his proudest achievements were always those of his amazing wife, children, and grandchildren. His service and dedication to positive change for rural Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia will continue for generations to come.”

“Frank Ruff was a dear friend and valued colleague. His passing is a great loss, not only to his family and friends, but to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Virginia Senate Republican Caucus Chair Mark Obenshain. “Frank led with a quiet, intelligent dignity that earned him the respect of all with whom he worked, without regard to political affiliation.”

Ruff is survived by his wife Jessie, his four children and grandchildren.