- Asia Tabb
AIRED; February 16, 2026
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
William Chester Ruth, born July 19, 1882, in Chatham, Pennsylvania, grew up in a family of farmers with roots tracing back to both formerly enslaved and free ancestors. For his granddaughter, Gwendolyn Ruth Dickinson, he was more than an inventor—he was a daily presence, a mentor, and a family anchor. “We actually lived in the home with our grandparents… I had that benefit of living with him,” she recalls, reflecting on the closeness they shared…