From Joplin Globe, April 25, 2019
Marilyn Ruestman, former Newton County presiding commissioner and Missouri state representative, has been named the winner of the 2019 Annie Baxter Award.
The honor, established in 1990 and sponsored by Missouri Southern State University, is presented each year to a prominent Missouri woman who makes noticeable contributions to her community in the spirit of Annie Baxter. Baxter, elected in 1890 as the Jasper County clerk, was the first woman to hold elective office in Missouri and the first female county clerk in the United States.
"I was surprised and honored to receive the award," Ruestman said. "I feel like it is a real honor to be given an award for pioneering women in the political field."
Ruestman began her career in public service by first becoming involved with the local Chamber of Commerce and in committee work, she said in a news release from MSSU.
"Then, while attending MSSU, I took a course called Students in Free Enterprise," she said in the release. "We went to a competition in the early 1980s in New York for developing programs to educate students on the free enterprise system. I ended up being the presenter, and we came in second in the nation."
During that time, Ruestman met former U.S. Rep. Mel Hancock, R-Mo., and after he was elected she served as his district assistant from 1989 to 1996. She also served as district director for former Missouri state Sen. Marvin Singleton.
From 2003 to 2010, Ruestman served as a Republican state representative for what was the 131st Missouri House District, representing parts of McDonald and Newton counties.
While serving as a representative, Ruestman was elected the majority caucus secretary in 2005, 2007 and 2009. She was also the treasurer of the freshman class of the 92nd General Assembly, president of the Women Legislators of Missouri and was appointed to the Missouri Women's Council.
In 2010, Ruestman was elected as the presiding commissioner of Newton County, and then reelected in 2014. She retired in January.
Ruestman was a recipient of the Woman of the Year award from the Missouri Federated Republican Women. In 2003, she was named MSSU's Outstanding Alumni and has served on the alumni board.
Newton County Commissioner Jim Jackson, who worked with Ruestman on the commission for six years, said that she is "most deserving" of the award and is a good role model not only for young professional women, but for all professionals in Newton and McDonald counties.
"You think of what she's done working at the county, state and federal level, and not everybody can do that," Jackson said.
Ruestman said that though times have changed since she was a young woman in politics, she is still always available to offer advice to young women who are considering joining the political world but need guidance on their first steps.
"It's different than most people think it is," she said. "And it's better if you know the steps to proceed and start out, like anything else."
Background
Annie Baxter Award recipient Marilyn Ruestman is also co-owner of Ruestman Real Estate Development Co., attended school in Neosho and Noel, and holds associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.
The honor, established in 1990 and sponsored by Missouri Southern State University, is presented each year to a prominent Missouri woman who makes noticeable contributions to her community in the spirit of Annie Baxter. Baxter, elected in 1890 as the Jasper County clerk, was the first woman to hold elective office in Missouri and the first female county clerk in the United States.
"I was surprised and honored to receive the award," Ruestman said. "I feel like it is a real honor to be given an award for pioneering women in the political field."
Ruestman began her career in public service by first becoming involved with the local Chamber of Commerce and in committee work, she said in a news release from MSSU.
"Then, while attending MSSU, I took a course called Students in Free Enterprise," she said in the release. "We went to a competition in the early 1980s in New York for developing programs to educate students on the free enterprise system. I ended up being the presenter, and we came in second in the nation."
During that time, Ruestman met former U.S. Rep. Mel Hancock, R-Mo., and after he was elected she served as his district assistant from 1989 to 1996. She also served as district director for former Missouri state Sen. Marvin Singleton.
From 2003 to 2010, Ruestman served as a Republican state representative for what was the 131st Missouri House District, representing parts of McDonald and Newton counties.
While serving as a representative, Ruestman was elected the majority caucus secretary in 2005, 2007 and 2009. She was also the treasurer of the freshman class of the 92nd General Assembly, president of the Women Legislators of Missouri and was appointed to the Missouri Women's Council.
In 2010, Ruestman was elected as the presiding commissioner of Newton County, and then reelected in 2014. She retired in January.
Ruestman was a recipient of the Woman of the Year award from the Missouri Federated Republican Women. In 2003, she was named MSSU's Outstanding Alumni and has served on the alumni board.
Newton County Commissioner Jim Jackson, who worked with Ruestman on the commission for six years, said that she is "most deserving" of the award and is a good role model not only for young professional women, but for all professionals in Newton and McDonald counties.
"You think of what she's done working at the county, state and federal level, and not everybody can do that," Jackson said.
Ruestman said that though times have changed since she was a young woman in politics, she is still always available to offer advice to young women who are considering joining the political world but need guidance on their first steps.
"It's different than most people think it is," she said. "And it's better if you know the steps to proceed and start out, like anything else."
Background
Annie Baxter Award recipient Marilyn Ruestman is also co-owner of Ruestman Real Estate Development Co., attended school in Neosho and Noel, and holds associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.
RSS Feed