Former state Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Mecklenburg County, has died, according to the governor’s office.
Ruff, 75, was one of the most senior legislators in the General Assembly and was regarded as a leader on efforts to promote economic development in rural areas.
Ruff won re-election last year but resigned in December, citing health issues. He had been diagnosed with cancer in October 2023 and underwent surgery in November, but then learned the cancer had spread. He said his rehab regimen would not allow him to continue service in the legislature.
His resignation triggered a January special election that led to his former aide, Tammy Mulchi, being elected in his place.
Ruff won tributes from both sides of the aisle. “He was quiet and unassuming as a legislator, but effective,” said state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville. “He was a friend.”
“His passing is a great loss, not only to his family and friends, but to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham County, the Senate Republican Caucus Chair. “Frank led with a quiet, intelligent dignity that earned him the respect of all with whom he worked, without regard to political affiliation.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said that Ruff’s “legacy will be felt across the Commonwealth not for years — but generations to come … Frank’s decades of service to the people of Virginia — spanning the General Assembly since 1993, the Mecklenburg Board of Supervisors before that, and finally as a citizen member and chairman of the Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission — are matched by few but have inspired many.”
His successor in the Senate, Mulchi, said: “My personal loss is indescribable with the passing of one of the most honorable men I have ever known. Senator Frank Ruff was not just a former employer but a lifelong friend, mentor, and father figure to me. While he leaves behind a legacy of successes in Southside Virginia and the entire state like few ever have, his proudest achievements were always those of his amazing wife, children, and grandchildren. His service and dedication to positive change for rural Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia will continue for generations to come.”
At the time of his resignation, Ruff was slated to be the senior Republican on the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee. Ruff was best known for his work in promoting economic development in rural Virginia.
“The workforce training programs we instituted in our area are and will continue creating good paying jobs, allowing the next generation to live, build a career, and raise their families here,” he said in a statement at the time.
Ruff served on the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission — the so-called Tobacco Commission that deals with building a new economy in former tobacco-growing areas — since its inception and was chairman of the panel when he died.
He also chaired the Center for Rural Virginia, a state-created nonprofit aimed at fostering economic growth in rural areas. This past year, the legislature renamed the group the Frank M. Ruff Jr. Center for Rural Virginia.
No funeral arrangements have been announced, according to the message from the Senate clerk. Those sending cards may send them to the family home at 237 Old Rock Road, Clarksville, VA 23927.
Other tributes to Ruff
Former Gov. and Sen. George Allen:
“Susan and I always think of Frank Ruff, because our A-Team bought a desk for us from Frank Ruff’s furniture store at the conclusion of my term as governor.
“The Honorable Frank Ruff was a respected small business owner who was one of my early supporters in my Governor campaign, and then a trusted ally in the General Assembly. Along with many others, our administration appreciated his good sense and honest perspective.
“Indeed, Frank Ruff will long be remembered as a genuinely decent, steady and positive leader for the people he represented. He consistently and creatively looked for and advanced better and new ways to improve opportunities for all.
“Susan and I appreciate that Frank’s dear bride Jessie is missing her devoted partner. We pray for her strength during this tough time of loss.”