Ruthie Bolton

Ruthie Bolton is a truly inspirational person, as a player and an individual. She has accomplished a lot of her dreams that many people thought were not possible. She always has a PMA, or positive mental attitude, taught to her by her father. Ruthie's life is an interesting story of many achievements. Some people may think that she is just a basketball player, but she is more than that, she is a goal reacher, a role model, a mother, a HERO!

Ruthie Bolton was born as Alice Ruth Bolton on May 25th, 1967 to her parents, Linwood and Leona Bolton, in Mississippi. Being one of 20 kids, there was always something to do at her house. Growing up, her family was very active. Because they weren't allowed to watch TV, the children would play outside sports together. Most of the children in her family were into, and serious about, basketball. Besides being energetic they were also very religious. Ruthie's father was a pastor for many different churches. Because of his job, he would travel a lot. Being a head of the church, Linwood was an inspiration to the whole family as church was a big part of their life. Ruthie, being very competitive, tried to be better than her sister, pushing herself to the amazing player she is today.

Ruthie played college basketball for Auburn, California from 1986-1989. She helped the team to the championship in 1989 and 1990 where they won, although returning to her junior year as a player in college, the coach, Tara VanDerveer, said that she was not good enough to be on the team. Coach said that she could come to the tryouts, but that she most likely was not going to make the team. Later, Ruthie told this to her father. Her father motivated her to stay strong and to not give up. Ruthie went to the tryouts with PMA and forced herself to be better than all of the other girls and to be more than the coach expected. She ended up making the team.

After college, Ruthie moved on to play professional basketball for the Sacramento Monarchs as #6. She played on the team from 1997 to 2004. She also played on many other teams including the Swedish, Hungarian and Italian teams. While on the Hungarian team, she hurt the ACL in her knee.

Before her professional job as a basketball player, she tried out for the Olympic team in 1992. She did not make it, but decided to work harder and try out in 1996 when the next Olympics would take place. In 1996 she made the team. In the Olympics Ruthie and her team won the gold medal. After accomplishing so many goals, she decided to end her career in 2005.

Now that Ruthie has retired from the game, she has started a family, and she also participates in many charities. She speaks at and visits many functions and fundraisers. She goes to local California schools and shares her story as she passes around her medals. The speeches are normally for fundraisers. The activities that she does with children include visiting sick hospitalized kids and coaching at kids basketball clinics. Ruthie also volunteers for community projects such as Habitat for Humanity and Say No to Drugs.

Ruthie Bolton relates to me and my life because I play sports, including basketball. Her actions inspire me to work harder at all that I do and to reach for my lifetime goals. She might inspire others to have a PMA as often as possible and to be more helpful and to do charity work. She fits my definition of a hero because she pushes people to do their best and she has accomplished many things throughout her lifetime.

Ruthie is an all around great person. She is athletic, courageous, strong-minded and willed, encouraging, persistent, helpful, charitable, and benevolent. Like I said before, anyone who tries to do their best at what they wish to become or what they want their goals to be will succeed. Ruthie teaches people to do so as she has done herself. People may tell you that you are not good enough for something or that you will never accomplish something whether it is at a sport or just something like getting into college. Do not listen to them. As long as you have your mind set on it, you will accomplish great things. I hope that you enjoyed this amazing story! Keep reaching for your dreams!