Ruby Jean Redman and her family have played a significant role in Plant City’s history, and throughout the decades, she has seen the town grow up right along with her.
As a child, Redman lived just three blocks from her would-be husband: lawyer and state legislator Jim Redman. They started dating when she was a junior in high school and married in 1957.
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, the Redmans rose to leadership through civic organizations such as the Auxiliary Club. They were longtime members of Plant City’s First Baptist Church, where Redman taught Sunday school and still attends.
Jim died in 2006, after a long struggle with cancer, but Redman continued to stay involved in the community.
PRUNE PLATOON
Although it was hard for Redman to watch her husband battle cancer for 28 years, she turned the struggle into an opportunity to serve Plant City in ways that promoted health and cancer research.
Redman brought the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life to Plant City shortly after Jim had started his cancer battle. She served on the society’s board for about eight years and still leads a team at Relay each year.
“Our team is all old people, and we’re called the Prune Platoon,” she says. “But, we’ve managed to raise a good bit of money.”
She also has served on the board of directors at South Florida Baptist Hospital for a number of years.
“I like keeping up with the new technologies, new treatment,” Redman says. “Every year, they’re coming up with new things.”
The emergency wing at the hospital is named after the Redmans, who made the original donation for its expansion and modernization in the early 2000s.
For other women who have family members battling cancer, Redman’s her advice is to stay positive.
“I learned a lot from (Jim) — perseverance was one of his great traits,” she says.
Today, Redman’s family carries on her legacy in leadership roles similar to some of those she has held.
FUTURE GENERATIONS
Before she started a family, Redman taught for one year at a school in Gainesville and another year at Bryan Elementary. Now, two of her daughters are principals at local schools: Pam Bowden, at Durant High School, and Susan Sullivan, at Tomlin Middle School. Redman’s third daughter, Jeanne Knotts, is a guidance counselor at Plant City High School.
Continuing into the next generation, Redman’s granddaughter, Chelsea Bowden, was crowned Florida Strawberry Festival queen when she was in high school. Redman herself earned the title in 1953 — four years after Chelsea’s other grandmother, Barbara Bowden.
Jim was a longtime board member for the festival, and Redman also has volunteered at the festival for about 50 years. She welcomes visitors as they step off of their tour buses, serving refreshments at an area reserved for the bus drivers.
“What makes our festival so unique — there are close to 2,000 volunteers that do it just because it’s fun,” she says. “We just have a good time out there and get to meet a lot of nice people.”
HOMETOWN GIRL
Having lived and led in Plant City for so many years, Redman has seen big changes come through the town.
“In many ways, it’s changed for the better,” she says. “In some ways, I wish it had not gotten as large as it has. We used to walk home at night, walk home from the movies. It was just a different world. We felt safe.”
As the town continues to change, Redman hopes the next generation of Plant City leaders will reflect some of the same qualities as her husband.
“I want them to be honest,” she says. “My husband was known for being honest. … A lot of people in the Legislature didn’t agree with him on some things, but they knew that he believed in what he was saying and he was an honest person, and that was more important in the long run.”
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
What was your first job?
My dad used to own a little dry goods store downtown in PC. I worked there in high school. I also sold tickets at the movie theater.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Probably what I ended up being — a schoolteacher.
What’s the best advice you have for being successful?
Being honest and doing the best you can with your God-given abilities.
Who is your role model?
My mother.
What’s the hardest life lesson you’ve learned?
Life isn’t always fair. You get knocked down, you get back up.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
To end hatred in the world.
What’s the No. 1 played song on your iPod?
[Does not own iPod, but favorite song] “It Had to be You”
If you were reincarnated as an animal, what animal would it be?
Some kind of pet.
What’s your least favorite food?
Liver.
Where would you go in a time machine?
I could go back to the 50s. My growing-up era.