Ann Ruby Hemken ’54, 2015 Leadership and Service Award

Cornell College is pleased to honor Ann Ruby Hemken for her quarter century of service as the Class of 1955 Class Agent.

Ann, you are terrific at keeping your class connected to each other and to the Hilltop. You’ve written nearly 50 letters featuring hundreds of updates from members of the class, who liberally share their information with you. How do you do this? You have revealed that your primary method of collecting information is by calling your classmates on the phone. By doing this, you say, you’ve had some fascinating conversations with people you haven’t seen for years. And, in your own words, “Nobody’s ever hung up on me.”

At Cornell you majored in education and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. You credit your Spanish professor, Dwain Dedrick, for preparing you for the eight months you spent in Chile your senior year as a member of the International Farm Youth Exchange.

You taught elementary school for 24 years, retiring in 1990. You and your late husband Daryl farmed near Williams, Iowa, until 1994, and opened the Hemken Collection car museum in Williams in 2000. The museum features 65 antique and special interest automobiles, in unrestored condition, with a special emphasis on convertibles.

Thank you, Ann, for 25 years of outstanding service as class agent. You have given generously with your time and spirit, to the benefit of the entire Cornell community. Congratulations on your Leadership and Service Award.