Ruth Westrom

Ruth Westrom was a phenomenal debate coach for me. She had one team that made it to the state final in 1970 for St Anthony Village High School. One member of that two-person team was Phil Carruthers, who became Speaker of the Minnesota State House of Representatives.

Ruth was also known state wide as an outstanding and personally accessible judge at debate and speech competitions. I met one current school principal who mentioned her to me as a standout coach and judge when the principal was a high school debater. "Westy" was a superb mentor to kids with a friendly twinkle in her eye who stretched us to do more and go farther than we thought possible. A memorable phrase when she wanted to say something important to you was "Now, now, now..." A great lover of Pepsi and hockey.

She attended my wedding in 1995 and gave us a beautiful glass candy bowl from the Swedish Society, which I still have and treasure. :)

I will always remember Ms.Westrom as a teacher and speech coach who really cared about her students

She started me in speech work as a 7th grader.I actually continued and received A Superior in extemp. speaking at the state in 1950 when I was a Senior in Wheaton HS