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Celebrating the leadership, vision, tenacity, and love of community shared by the recipients of the Great Living Cincinnatian Award, presented annually by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber since 1967.
John Ruthven remembers growing up in Walnut Hills and making his way to the banks of the Ohio River, dreaming about the birds John J. Audubon painted more than a century before.
Even as a boy, Ruthven’s dream was to become influential in preserving wildlife through art. “I continually took my sketch pad with me wherever I went,” Ruthven recalled. He went on to paint a brilliant career that has earned recognition from the highest.
Ruthven came home following naval duty during World War II, entered the Cincinnati Art Academy and opened a commercial art studio, but never lost sight of a career in wildlife art. His big break came in 1960, when he won the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp competition.
By 1971 Ruthven founded Wildlife Internationale Inc. to produce his limited edition lithographs. For decades he has created artworks to benefit local organizations such as WCET, the Fine Arts Fund, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Cincinnati Museum Center.
In 1994 Ruthven was honored by the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History with a major retrospective exhibit displaying 100 of his most important works, including “Eagle to the Moon,” commissioned by former Gov. James Rhodes to commemorate the achievements of astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Ruthven was 73 at the time of his award.
Recipients are selected from candidates by the Cincinnati Chamber’s senior council based on the following criteria: – Community service – Business and civic attainment on a local, state and national or international level – Leadership – Awareness of the needs of others – Distinctive accomplishments that have brought favorable attention to their community, institution or organization
The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s mission is to grow the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. The Chamber team is working on behalf of member businesses to ignite business resiliency and inclusive growth, to invest in the people who call this region home, to lead regional connectivity through collaboration, and to champion the region’s unique advantages.
Discover all a Cincinnati Chamber membership offers you, your business, and your team.