Born to Olga Mogensen and William Taubert in Evan, Minnesota in 1924, it was discovered that Ruth was Deaf. Raised in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Ruth and her brother, Sheldon, also Deaf, attended the Rochester Institute for the Oral (close to the Mayo Clinic) and later attended high school at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. Ruth was a superb athlete, excelling in numerous sporting events. Upon graduation Ruth looked for a higher educational opportunity that would allow her to accomplish her desire to become a successful coach and help others accomplish their athletic goals. Ruth attended Gallaudet College where she participated in various sporting events as a member of the Women’s Athletic Association.
Upon graduation from Gallaudet College, Ruth’s contributions to the world of deaf athletes were only beginning. In 1957 she became the first deaf American woman to compete for the United States in the track and field division of the World Games for the Deaf. She also competed in the mixed doubles tennis competition, earning a bronze medal for the U.S.
Ruth met Julius Seeger, a Texan, at Gallaudet University, and upon graduation in 1949, they married and located in Austin Texas, teaching at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) for a combined total of 75 years. In 1960, she gave birth to their only child – Mark Seeger.
Ruth organized the first Texas School for the Deaf track team for girls in 1963. In 1973 she organized the first TSD volleyball team, after winning several championships as a player with the Austin Athletic Club located at 12th and Lamar alongside Bee Crenshaw. In 1986 she organized the first TSD softball team.
Throughout her coaching career Ruth’s girls have accumulated a total of 27 Olympic medals at the World Games for the Deaf. She was the United States Women’s track coach in 1965, 1969, 1973, 1977 and 1985. In 1975 she served as the women’s coach at the Pan American Games for the Deaf.
In 2005 at the age of 81, Ruth earned her 300th gold medal at the Pittsburg National Senior Games and her 301st gold medal she dedicated to her husband Julius. In other National Senior Games competitions Ruth won first place in the 75-79 age group categories of Field Shotput, Field Discus, Javelin, Long Jump and High Jump competitions and today continues to hold the World Record for Javelin in the age category of 80-85.
The Austin American Statesman recognized Ruth as one of “Six Outstanding Women of Austin” in 1972 and in 1988 she was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame by then Governor Clements. Upon retirement, then Governor Mark White officially commissioned her as a Yellow Rose of Texas and in recognition of her many contributions to the Girls Athletic program at the Texas School for the Deaf, the Athletic facility was named the “Seeger Gym”. She was later appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve as a Commissioner with the Texas Commission for the Deaf.
She leaves behind a loving son, Mark Seeger and his husband, Jeff Harper of Austin. Ruth also leaves behind a very special nephew Robert (Bob) Taubert, who she cared for as a son during his teenage years prior to his enlistment in the Navy. Bob has four sons – Dominic, Adrian, Kristopher, and Jonathan - and five grandsons and one granddaughter - who continue the Taubert family legacy. Ruth’s husband, Julius, preceded her in death on December 15, 2011.
The family is most grateful to the following lifelong friends and caregivers who were with Ruth as part of our family when we learned she would be challenged with Alzheimer’s Disease: Marie Poss, Kathryn Caldcleugh, Kathleen Rogers, Carrie Frazier, and Jo Bienvenu. We also would like to recognize all of the loving staff at Sodalis Memory Care in San Marcos, and Heart to Heart Hospice for your wonderful care.
Arrangements
A memorial service has been tentatively planned for Sunday, April 27th at 2PM at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church located at 15th and Rio Grande (606 West 15th Street) in Austin, Texas with a light reception following.
Memorials
To honor Ruth’s legacy in the field of Athletics, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers, consideration be given to memorial tax deductible contributions for the Texas School for the Deaf Foundation.
Texas School for the Deaf Foundation
PO Box 42727
Austin, Texas 78704
Website: www.tsdfoundation.org