Ruth Leach Amonette

Ruth Leach Amonette
Ruth Leach Amonette
Born	Ruth Leach; September 24, 1916; Oakland, California, U.S.
Died	June 21, 2004 (aged 87); Carmel, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Ruth Pollock, Ruth Amonette
Education	University of California
Employer	IBM
Known for	First female VP at IBM
Spouses	Walter W. Pollock, Jr. (m. 1954); Wilbur K. Amonette (m. 1988);
Children	1

Ruth Leach Amonette (September 24, 1916 – June 21, 2004) was an American businesswoman, author, and educator. She was appointed as the first female executive and vice president at

corporate

positions in the US at the time. She was renowned nationally for her work in business and as an educator.

Early life and education

Ruth Leach was born in 1916 in Oakland, California. She had one sister. She attended Piedmont High School in Piedmont, California.^[1] She attended the University of California, Berkeley starting in 1933.^[2] She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.^[1] While in school, she played tennis. After graduating in 1937 with a degree in political science, she worked as a dental assistant. Eventually, she quit to work at the Golden Gate International Exposition.

IBM

Amonette started working at IBM in February 1939 as a Systems Service Representative. She worked at the Golden Gate International Exposition, presenting demos of IBM typewriters.^[2] She trained in service system work for IBM and was sent to work at IBM's Atlanta, Georgia office. She became a teacher for IBM at the United States Department of Education in Endicott, New York, in July 1940. In October, she became the Secretary of Education for Women for IBM.^[2] That position had her training women throughout IBM about selling IBM products throughout North America.^{[citation needed]}

Amonette became vice president of IBM on November 16, 1943. She credited Thomas J. Watson providing the "vision and foresight" to employ her in a high-level position. This position made her one of the few women in corporate "power" positions in the United States and one of the youngest people in the nation to hold a high-level position.^[1]

In 1947, she recovered from

Camp Fire Girls, the New York Public Library, the Professional Women's Club of New York, the American Association of University Women, and other organizations. In 1946, she served on the New York State Women's Council. She retired in 1953.^{[citation needed}

]

Later life and legacy

After retiring, she married Walter Bill Pollock in 1954.

Carmel, California in 2004.^[2]

Recognition

1945 – Outstanding American Woman of the Year,

Women's National Press Club

1945 – Merit Award, Mademoiselle
1946 – Achievement Award, Women's National Press Club
1996 – Induction, Women in Technology International Hall of Fame, Women in Technology International

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "AMONETTE, Ruth Leach". Obituary. SFGate. June 26, 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Ruth Leach Amonette". Featured Profile. Women in Technology International. Retrieved September 9, 2013.

[SFgate-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "AMONETTE, Ruth Leach". Obituary. SFGate. June 26, 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2013.

[Amonette-2] "Ruth Leach Amonette". Featured Profile. Women in Technology International. Retrieved September 9, 2013.

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