Left to right: Dr. DeBow Freed, president of UF, Mr. Robert M. and Mrs. Catherine M. Zelasko Pritts, Dr. William and Mrs. Donna Ruse

The University of Findlay recently honored Distinguished Associates Mr. Robert M. and Mrs. Catherine M. Zelasko Pritts and Dr. William and Mrs. Donna Ruse for their continued support of and involvement in the University.
   
Each couple received a citation during the University’s annual Applause! Reception earlier this month.
   
The Ruses, of Findlay, have been actively involved with UF activities for many years. Bill was instrumental in the University’s acquisition of the nursing care facility on Frazer Street, which is used for campus housing and offices, and he has been a visionary and a champion of the School of Pharmacy. He mentored students as the Dana Chair/Executive-in-Residence for the College of Business in 2006-2007, and he continued to teach Health Care Strategic Management and Health Care Regulations and Public Policy online and on campus as an adjunct faculty member for the MBA program.
   
Donna is a longtime supporting member of Town & Campus and serves on the board of the Curtain Raisers Society for the Performing Arts. The couple actively attends cultural arts performances on campus.
   
The Ruses have assured financial assistance for future generations of education majors at The University of Findlay through endowing the Barbara Rieck Heminger Scholarship as part of the 125th anniversary fund drive.
   
Bill has served on The University of Findlay Board of Trustees since 1994 and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Health Care Management degree in 1997. He was chief executive at Blanchard Valley Health Association for 36 years before retiring in 2001. Donna has been a broker with ReMax of Findlay for more than 20 years and has worked in real estate for more than 31 years.
  
The Pritts, of Columbus, were advocates of the University since the early 1960s when they solicited for funds door-to-door. More recently, the couple helped found the Columbus Regional Alumni chapter and the successful alumni golf outing held each year in the Columbus area. They also host Columbus-area Summer Send-offs each August for new students and their families.
   
Robert graduated from then-Findlay College in 1957 and enjoyed a long career in education. Several of the Pritts’ family members are graduates of the University. The couple’s sons, Robert and Steven, and granddaughter, Jessica, graduated from UF. This fall, granddaughter Casey matriculated into the freshman class.
   
Because of their appreciation for the difference an education at Findlay has made in their lives and the lives of their children and grandchildren, the Pritts are endowing the Robert M. and Catherine M. Pritts Scholarship.
   
The Pritts have been owners of an antiques shop in western Pennsylvania since 1971 and a second shop in Columbus since 1982. In addition, they have been owners of an AM radio station in Uniontown, Pa., for the past 10 years. They reside in Columbus.