By Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
William B. Ruger, Jr., an executive with the company that bears his name, was fond of collecting guns and automobiles.
On Sept. 17 Sturm, Ruger & Company mournfully announced the passing of William Batterman Ruger, Jr., former chairman of the board and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Ruger, who was the second CEO of the company and the son of the firm’s co-founder, passed away peacefully at age 79 at his home in Newport, NH, after a brief illness.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill, who was integral to the foundation and early success of this company,” said Chris Killoy, president and CEO of Ruger. “Bill’s 42 years of loyal service to the Company has had a lasting impact that is still felt today. We will sincerely miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Bill Ruger joined the company in 1964 and worked in a variety of manufacturing and engineering positions within the firm. In 1970, he became a member of the company’s Board of Directors. The following year, he was named Vice President of Manufacturing of the Southport Firearms Division. Just a few years later he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and, in 1991, was named President of the Company. He became Vice Chairman of the Board and Senior Executive Officer in 1995, and reassumed the duties of President and Chief Operating Officer in 1998. He became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer upon William B. Ruger, Sr.’s retirement in 2000. The younger Ruger officially retired from the company in February 2006.
Born in Greensboro, NC, in 1939, he graduated from Harvard College in 1961 where he studied engineering and applied physics. Before joining Ruger, he worked for the Kel Corporation of Belmont, MA, as an electronics engineer.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute and various other trade associations, a trustee of St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, Salisbury School and a trustee of the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association of Cody, WY.
Working in a range of manufacturing and engineering positions, he is listed as a patent holder on a number of firearm inventions. In addition to his work in the firearms industry, Ruger was a noted art and automobile collector and was profiled in the 2014 issue of Antiques & Fine Art magazine.
During his time of leadership of the company, one of his accomplishments was retaining manufacture of all of the company’s products in the United States, which was especially important to his home town of Newport. He notably developed new initiatives, including plans for an automobile, which the well-known firearms company was desirous of building.
His detailed knowledge of mechanics, style, and manufacture were well known in the automobile collecting arena. His attention to detail and deep commitment to collecting garnered him many achievements, including awards at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.
He is preceded in death by his father, William Batterman Ruger, Sr., who died in 2002, aged 86, and his brother James Thompson Ruger, who died in 1993. He is survived by his sister Carolyn Amalie Vogel, and a host of nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held Sept. 22 at Blue Mountain Forest Association in Croydon, NH.
