Ruth E. PeelerRuth E. PeelerRuth E Peeler (1896-1986) citation for the state/regional level Pugsley Medal in 1955 noted that “following World War II Mrs. Peeler started a one-women crusade for more and better state parks in Washington. She was born in Florence, Kansas. She moved with her family to Spokane in 1908, and in 1931 settled in the Zenith/Des Moines area of Washington." She graduated from the University of Washington and owned and operated her own advertising agency in Seattle for many years. A community activist, Peeler was elected president of the Des Moines-Zenith Improvement Club during the World War II years. During her early tenure, she helped raise funds to buy a stove and other items for the Des Moines Fieldhouse, which was dedicated in 1940.
However, she was best known as a crusader who "mothered " and nurtured the Washington State Parks system, on whose Commission she served from 1948 to 1953. In 1937 a State Planning Council of 16 members was formed by the governor and legislature to recommend how the state could acquire, preserve and develop its scenic, historical and recreational areas. Their 61 page report was presented to Governor Langlie in 1941, but was not given prominent attention because of the onset of American involvement in World War II.
In 1921 a law had been passed creating a fund for state parks consisting of revenues derived from one-fourth of highway fines and one-tenth of drivers’ licenses. By 1945, several million dollars had accumulated in the fund. In 1945, $390,000 was allocated to finance Sun Lakes State Park, but there was no momentum behind the movement for a state park system. Ruth Peeler changed that! Her home in Des Moines was located near Saltwater State Park and there was a dire need to repair a seawall. Although the community was alarmed at its poor state and the State Park Committee, consisting of five elected officials, was repeatedly apprised of its condition, nothing was done. A local delegation who met with this committee was informed that no funds existed for such a purpose.
This provoked Mrs. Peeler to spend the next two years undertaking her own study of the park system in Washington State. During 1945 and 1946 she toured the state and visited all of its parks. She found it was comprised of 65,000 acres, mostly donated by civic minded organizations and individuals. Most of the parks had been developed by the CCC and WPA. This work had cost $8 million but the neglect of the parks was such that in 1946 their appraised value had dropped to $3.5 million.
These findings angered Ruth Peeler. Armed with her detailed data on the condition of all the parks she spoke to service clubs, conservation and recreation organizations, civic groups, schools and colleges across the state. Newspapers published her featured articles on the subject, "Shall our State Parks go to Ruin?" She also visited every state lawmaker to make them aware of the parks’ neglect. She was on the Board of Directors of the National Conference on State Parks and so was aware of the progress being made in developing state park systems elsewhere in the country.
Because she had taken the problem to the grass roots, by the time the next legislature convened there was widespread interest in it. Mrs. Peeler knew many of the state legislators and officials, and had extensive discussions with them. She was invited by the Park Committees in both the house and senate to advise them during the session. The existing State Parks Committee was comprised of people who had other duties as elected officials (Secretary of State, State Land Commissioner, and State Treasurer.) These busy officials could not devote as much time to the parks as was needed. The new State Parks and Recreation Commission advocated by Peeler, allowed the government to appoint a seven-member policy making body. Four members were to be citizens of the state, who understood park and recreation needs, appointed by the governor with the consent of the state senate. Three other members could be state officials appointed by the governor. With its new powers, the commission could appoint an experienced director to manage the agency.
The bill was passed in 1947 and Peeler was appointed to the commission for a six year term, serving as its vice-chair during that period. She persuaded the legislature to increase the revenue for parks derived from drivers’ licenses from 10% to 40% and to increase the driver’s license fee to $3 which resulted in additional $1.2 million each biennium. By 1950, when the Commission had been in operation for 18 months the park system had been transformed. The appearance of decay had gone and the services offered had improved.
At that point, Mrs. Peeler shifted her attention to the restoration and preservation of historical sites, finding that Washington was behind other states in this field. Again, she used her persuasion on the legislature and obtained $50,000 to initiate this program. By 1953, when she resigned from the Commission due to ill-health, Ruth Peeler and her fellow commissioners had obtained and dedicated 32 historical parks and recreation areas. In his letter reluctantly accepting Mrs. Peeler's resignation, Governor Langlie said, "It is difficult to express adequately our appreciation for the unselfish and devoted leadership and service you have given. During your term of office great headway has been made in our Parks due, in no small part, to your effectiveness in developing an educational program and in pushing the expansion and improvement of our whole system."
Ruth Peeler was honored in 1979 by the Commission when a site at the Ghingko Petrified Forest Museum was renamed the Ruth E. Peeler Vista.