Former CCHA commissioner and director of the BGSU Ice Arena Jim Ruehl passed away this past Friday (Jan. 17) at the age of 83.
Washington Capitals’ GM George McPhee, also a Hobey Baker winner at Bowling Green, called Ruehl “the man we all want to be” in a statement.
“It is with great sadness that I hear about Jim’s death,” current Boston College coach Jerry York and coach of Bowling Green’s 1984 national championship team added. “I was fortunate that Jim was at BGSU when I was hired, not only as my mentor in athletics, but in life as well. He was truly a great man and will be missed by many.”
Ruehl joined BGSU’s football coaching staff in 1956 and was a part of the 1959 undefeated national championship season. He was also a member of the BGSU faculty in health and physical education, earning his graduate degree from Bowling Green.
In 1972, Ruehl became the BGSU Ice Arena director, a post he held for 12 years. In 1982, while still the arena director, he was named CCHA commisioner and held that role when Bowling Green won the national championship two years later.
Ruehl and his wife of 63 years, Ann, had five children – Jim, Carol, Bob, Jeff and Julie.
A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, Ohio.
