Dr. Ruth Ketron began her service to the running and walking community 28 years ago, after taking a Race Walking class presented by Bobby Baker. She enjoyed the morning session so much that she took the class again later the same day, and she has remained committed to the sport ever since. For many years Ketron assisted Baker with the USATF 5K RACEWALK CHAMPIONSHIPS. Since entering the sport, Ketron has been an active member of the Club. She was an SFTC Board member for 7 years, from 2009-2012 and 2016-2018, serving as the Club’s Race Walk Representative. And you see her regularly volunteering at SFTC and community events throughout the year. Ketron now 90, is the most senior member of the club, and age has not slowed her down. Her age-graded results are impressive, and she currently holds 44 Tennessee state age-group records in seven different distances ranging from one mile to 10K. Ketron was the SFTC “Queen of the Road” in 2016 and has been named female race walker of the year nine times between 2001-2020. Ketron was also inducted into the Dobyns-Bennett Alumni Hall of Fame in 2017. She has earned many degrees, including a B.S and master’s in health education from East Tennessee State and a Ed.D from University of Tennessee. 

*Dr. Ruth Ketron passed in 2022