Benjamin A. “Ben” Ruffin
Benjamin “Ben” A. Ruffin (5/9/1879 to 11/11/1939 (Hollywood Cemetery)) is – perhaps – the most consequential person involved with Charles M. Robinson, including, but not limited to all other partners, including J. Binford Walford.
Mr. Ruffin may have been the original first “partner” or shareholder in the new incorporation, as shown in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on March 21, 1912, as Lewis A. Ruffin – Ben’s Brother – was one of the incorporators:
In 1913, Ruffin was made a shareholder in Charles M. Robinson, Inc. as evidenced by him being shown as Secretary-Treasurer in the Richmond City Directory, a position he would hold until at least 1929.
A 1916 Firm Letterhead dated January 24, 1916 (several months before Charles Custer Robinson initialed his first set of plans) shows Mr. Ruffin as an equal to Charles M. Robinson on the Firm’s Fifth Floor Times-Dispatch Building Letterhead:
Mr. Ruffin was the insurance and finance specialist of Charles M. Robinson Architects, though 1932. It is not known – only suspected through lack of action to secure Firm finances in the Depression – if he was involved in any significant role related to the Firm’s downfall. He was a pallbearer at Charles M. Robinson’s August 22, 1932 funeral at Hollywood, so inference can be drawn that Mr. Ruffin’s relationship with the Firm at the end was at least cordial and not adversarial. His obituary states that he “resigned in 1932 to become Vice-President of Ortega, Robins & Race, general insurance agents and District Manager of Investors’ Syndicate.
What is known is that he was never associated with the successor firms, including the immediate succession to J. Binford Walford. He had an office for his Investment and Insurance Business within the Charles M. Robinson offices, both on the 5th and 10th Floors of the Times-Dispatch Building. The interior layout drawings of the Firm’s space show “Ben’s Insurance Company” as having a separate office. It is easy to conclude that Charles M. Robinson owed much of his success to the financial savvy of Ben Ruffin.
He was one of the sons of George Edwin & Ada Cora Harding Ruffin and was born in Richmond, who had six children. He may a nephew of Southern Secessionist Edmund Ruffin of Hanover County. The 1880 Census shows George Edwin Ruffin’s occupation as “Superintendent” and the census shows that Benjamin has a two-year-older brother, Edwin.
He was a graduate of Randolph-Macon College.
Ben Ruffin had his hand in many ventures in Richmond but always lived at 2002 Stuart Avenue. The City Directories show the following:
-
1911-13: Lecky & Ruffin, Inc. (General Insurance and Surety Bonds) – Vice-President
-
1911: Mountain View Realty Corporation – Secretary-Treasurer
-
1912-13: Brander Cotton Mills Corporation – Secretary-Treasurer
-
1913-28: Charles M. Robinson, Inc. – Secretary-Treasurer
-
1914-28: B. A. Ruffin, Inc. (General Insurance and Surety Bonds) – President
-
1914: Mausoleum Builders of Virginia, Inc. – Secretary-Treasurer
-
1914-15: Pro-Phy-Tol Products – Secretary
-
1916: Insurance Committee of the American Bankers Association – Secretary
-
1919-32: Standard Accident Insurance Company of Detroit – State Agent
-
1933: No business affiliations; he is listed as “City Manager.”
An October 30, 1914 article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch discusses the construction of a large mausoleum at Riverview Cemetery. “Plans for the building have been prepared by Charles M. Robinson, Inc. of this city, and have been filed with the Administrative Board. They provide for the Blyth System of mausoleum construction and lay down specifications, which, it is stated, will give Riverview Cemetery a building of striking beauty.” Note that in 1914, Ben Ruffin was Secretary-Treasurer of Mausoleum Builders of Virginia, Inc.
A December 10, 1914 article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch discusses how Ridchmond architects are disappointed in the process that the City of Richmond carried-out for the purposes of a [never-built] new municipal building. “’Each one of us is naturally very much disappointed that he did not take the first prize [of $1,030],’ said Benjamin A. Ruffin of Charles M. Robinson, Inc. ‘Naturally, we are also interested in knowing the criticism that was made of our designs and the faults they contained as compared with the winning [Carneal & Johnston] design.’” The Richmond Architects had all met at the offices of Charles M. Robinson to discuss their displeasure.
On July 12, 1928 in Des Moines, Iowa – after travelling on a special train known as the “B. A. Ruffin Special,” he was elected President of Lions International—a nationally-important office—after being very active in local and state Lions organizations in Virginia.
For four years in the 1920s he was full-time Membership Secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and taught public speaking and conducted a weekly-bible study class at the YWCA.
Ben Ruffin died at his house at 2002 Stuart Avenue on November 11, 1939 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 60. He was survived by his wife, Minnie E. Lamkin Ruffin (7/11/1879-7/8/1972), whom he married in Richmond on July 6, 1901, and a daughter, Mrs. T. Martin Holloway of Detroit. His obituary stated:
“Mr. Ruffin had probably made more speeches than any other man in Richmond. During one year, they numbered 150. He once explained his effectiveness as a speaker by saying he made the most out of small incidents and brought in amusing references to other speakers on the program. He had spoken before all types of audiences and once carried a message from the President across the continent to a group of businessmen in California. He was a veteran air traveler and during the time he was head of Lions International he made many of his business trips in airplanes. Governor James H. Price, Mayor J. F. Bright and dignitaries of Lions International will be [among the dozens of} honorary pallbearers [from many different organziations]. Members of his Men’s Bible Class will be active pallbearers.”
