Honoring Ruth Seymour - KCRW's Outgoing General Manager

For the past 16 years I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Ruth Seymour. It’s been an incredible experience and now that she’s leaving after 32 years I’m often asked what she will leave behind.

She leaves KCRW with a legacy that includes our guiding principle – to be important. To matter. This pursuit is what guides our programming, whether it’s online or over the air. It never mattered to her that KCRW be the top-rated station. The measure of success was to not just be part of the conversation, but to be the generator of the ideas.

There is simply no other station anywhere like KCRW. And that’s because of Ruth.

-- Jennifer Ferro

RUTH’S LETTER ANNOUNCING HER RETIREMENT
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

AUDIO DOCUMENTARY: THE TRUTH ABOUT RUTH

A no holds-barred look at Ruth -- her legacy at KCRW and the public radio station, her background and who she's like as a person and what she's like to work with. Produced by Matt Holzman, KCRW.

DOWNLOAD THE SHOW (or listen below)

CELEBRATING RUTH AT THE GETTY

On Feb 24, Acting Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum David Bomford, welcomed more than 150 of Ruth Seymour's closest friends and admirers to honor her 32 years of service to the arts and cultural community.

Bomford said that moving to LA, upon arriving at LAX the first thing his wife would do was set the rental car radio to KCRW. He likened the station to a work of art that cannot be owned but only held in stewardship, saying that Ruth passes this masterwork on to her successor.

Michael Fleming, President of the KCRW Foundation, surprised the crowd by announcing the Board has committed to raising money to build and name an interview studio in Ruth’s honor when the new station is built. Dr. Chui Tsang, President of Santa Monica College commended her tenacity in insisting that the new station be built as part of the College’s future plans. Warren Olney thanked Ruth for bringing the community together in the most profound way.

Sarah Spitz presented the Santa Monica City Council’s proclamation honoring Ruth. And Mr. Bomford read a proclamation by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti, honoring her impact on the region.

A gift basket featuring items from the nation’s and city’s major art institutions was presented – along with the first-ever lifetime press pass from the Getty.

Ruth ended the evening by telling the audience that the joy of running KCRW doesn’t end with her departure; she spoke from the heart about the future of the station in the hands of Jennifer Ferro, newly named as the station’s manager.

Slideshow photo credit: Salvador Farfan, caughtinthemoment.com

LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HONORS RUTH SEYMOUR

Ruth Seymour and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors

On February 16, 2010, the LA County Board of Supervisors honored Ruth for her 32 years as General Manager. The proclamation was initiated and delivered by Zev Yaroslavsky who’s been a fan of KCRW since its infancy under Ruth’s aegis. He spoke from the heart about the station Ruth created, noting that all of the Supervisors have been on with Warren more than once, that it was the creation of Which Way, L.A.? after the riots that helped the city heal and how good it has been for Los Angeles that Ruth created this world class institution.

In thanking Zev for the honor, Ruth noted that KCRW has evolved alongside the city, and in many ways each mirrors the growth of the other.

Photo: Ruth with the entire Board, holding her proclamation. From left to right, Don Knabe; Mark Ridley-Thomas; Gloria Molina; Zev Yaroslavsky, and Mike Antonovich.

WATCH THE PRESENTATION

LARRY MANTLE OF AIRTALK INTERVIEWS RUTH

The End of a Public Radio Era: Ruth Seymour Leaves KCRW, February 16, 2010
LISTEN

LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS RUTH ON HER CAREER AND RETIREMENT

Soundoff, February 2010
READ

KCRW'S STAFF CELEBRATES RUTH'S CAREER AND LEADERSHIP

A parade of programmers, staff members and their families attended an intimate gathering at The Rose Café to celebrate Ruth’s career and her birthday on February 18.

The Rose has been a special place to KCRW. In addition to being the first place to bring food to KCRW to feed pledge phone volunteers, it was the scene of many a meeting between Ruth, station personnel and community, arts and cultural leaders.

Chris Douridas recalled his most personal connection to Ruth in the sorrows they’ve shared over the loss of children. Tom Schnabel remembered Ruth’s feistiness and lack of hesitation in sharing her views of what she heard on the air – while still letting everyone exercise their own taste. Warren Olney praised Ruth for creating the public forum of the air, and, in his words, helping to reinvent his career as a broadcaster. And Steve Herbert, who began at KCRW as a volunteer the age of 17 and is now chief engineer, took us through the history of the station, from junior high school playground to powerhouse radio force.

Ruth thanked all, and said what a privilege and joy it has been to be part of something that has become so important to the life our community -- and mostly to each other. The evening was both moving and celebratory.

Slideshow photo credit: Bryony Shearmur

STAFF BLOG POSTS

Goodbye Ruth, from DnA, by Frances Anderton, February 26, 2010
READ

How Ruth Changed My Life, by Evan Kleiman, February 26, 2010
READ