FORT RUCKER, Ala. (June 13, 2013) -- The home of Army Aviation will immortalize one of its legends June 18 when 5th Avenue is renamed in honor of (Ret.)CW4 William "Willie" L. Ruf.
The free-public ceremony is scheduled to begin on the corner of Novosel Street and 5th Avenue. Road blocks for the ceremony are scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. and remain in place until the ceremony is complete. In the event of inclement weather, the dedication will happen in Bldg. 101, Rm. 103.
The entire span of 5th Avenue will see the new street name signs posted in the coming months, as the full changes of the renamed street go into effect. Some of those changes include updating emergency services and mapmakers of the change.
Ruf, one of the original Army Aviatiors, is considered a legend by some. He served as an infrantryman in WWII and Korea and as an Aviator in Vietnam. Ruf graduated from the first rotary-wing flight class at Fort Rucker in 1955. He served in the Army Executive Flight Detachment (Presidential Flight) and flew four presidents. Ruf later served as an instructor at Fort Rucker and retired with more than 50 years of service. He died Sept. 20, 2007, in Dothan.
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