Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Ruth Wright Miller makes history as the first female inductee to the Lenoir-Rhyne Sports Hall of Fame.  A native of Landis, N.C., Miller was a standout basketball player for the 'Bearettes' in the late 1930's.  A four-year starter, Miller played for a couple of L-R Hall of Famers in Pat Shores and Clarence Stasavich.  Known for her intense play, the Lenoir-Rhynean once stated that, "This fiery red-head makes up with scrap what she lacks in size."  Miller captained the Bearettes as a junior and senior and was far and away the team's leading scorer each of those years.  In fact, Miller scored 115 points as a senior - 68 points more than the second-place scorer on the team. The 1939 Bearettes, led by senior Miller, finished with an undefeated record, to date the only Lenoir-Rhyne basketball team to accomplish that feat.  Following her years at Lenoir-Rhyne, Miller served 38 years in the education system of Rowan and Wilkes counties until her retirement in 1977.