[2] Ruhe served as director of parks and recreation in La Porte, Indiana and Skokie, Illinois.

His strong leadership stopped other agencies, such as the Minnesota highway department, from taking park land for their projects, a disagreement the park board eventually won in the US Supreme Court.

[1] During a period of Great Society government spending, he was able to increase the park system's budget and ability to sell bonds.

[3] Ruhe is remembered for transforming the Minneapolis park system into a resource for everyone, in place of an elitist service for the wealthy.

[1] After only four years on the job, Ruhe won the national Pugsley Medal from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration.