In Memoriam: Joahn Ruan

Industry leader passes away at 96

by Staff

April 1, 2010

1 min to read

John Ruan [1914-2010], founder of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, passed away Feb. 13. He was 96.

Ruan began his transportation company in 1932 with only one truck. The small business grew into Ruan Transportation Management Systems, now one of the nation's largest transportation management companies. As chairman and CEO of the Ruan family of companies, John Ruan represented a diversified group of businesses with activities including transportation, commercial banking, financial services, international trading, and real estate development. Ruan Companies owns Bankers Trust Company, the largest independent bank in Iowa.

Ruan was widely recognized for many of his contributions to the transportation industry. In 1997, the American Trucking Associations' Ruan Transportation Center building in Washington, D.C., was dedicated, honoring Ruan's more than 50 years of service to the transportation industry.

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