Having people believe in him at Midland University sparked Rudy Ross ’70 to a long career in both education and the military.

“My journey started with belief from Dr. Caryl Steyer (Dean of Students) and Dr. Darlene Ritter (English professor) that I was more than what my ACT scores predicted me to be.”

He arrived at Midland thanks to an opportunity to compete on the football and wrestling squads. He wound up being a standout in three sports at Midland (wrestling, football, track and field) and was inducted into the Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. He is also a member of the Omaha Technical High School Hall of Fame, as well as the Nebraska Black Athletes Hall of Fame. 

After graduating from Midland in 1970, Rudy returned to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska and began work as a PE teacher and a coach for football and swimming. His plans changed when he was drafted into the Navy and served in Vietnam, sparking a 26-year run in the Navy that featured seven years on active duty and 19 years in the Navy Reserves. 

“Having my degree, I was recruited to attend Officer Candidate School and left there as an Ensign. I retired as a Navy captain in 2006.”

After he was done with active duty, Rudy returned to his passion, teaching, and embarked on a 35-year career in education as a teacher and principal in the St. Paul Public School District in Minnesota. He received his Masters in Special Education from St. Thomas University and earned a Specialist Education Administration from Minnesota State University. 

Some of his favorite Midland memories are competing in athletics, helping start a fraternity, volunteering at the Fremont Family YMCA, and working at Lutheran sponsored summer youth camps.

He kept a strong connection with Midland by serving two terms on the university’s board of directors. “That was a high point for me. Being on the board validated the belief that Midland’s leadership team in 1965 had in me as a person.”

Still living in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota, Rudy and his wife, Arlis, have five children and two grandchildren. His son, Jesse, attended Midland, as did four other relatives. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking and volunteering his time to social services.