Meet Special Guest Speaker Ruthie Bolton!
Ruthie Bolton grew up in McClain,
Mississippi, one of 20 children born to Linwood and Leola Bolton. She
recalls spending many happy hours with her brothers and sisters singing
around the piano or battling it out on the basketball court. She never
dreamed she would one day be a pioneer in women's professional
basketball.
For 10 years, Ruthie was a point guard
for the Sacramento Monarchs, and one of the superstars of the WNBA. Her
impressive career started at Auburn University, where she led her team
to four NCAA tournament appearances. She has represented the United
States on several World Championship teams and was named USA
Basketball's Female Player of the Year in 1991. Since then Ruthie has
added a few medals to her trophy collection - gold ones - at the
Goodwill Games in 1994 and at the Olympics in 1996 and 2000.
Bolton has become a role model for
young people everywhere. She says she owes her success to the love and
support of her family and that the lessons she learned as a child have
guided her through all the challenges of her adult life.
Naturally, with such a large family,
communication skills and patience and unselfishness were musts! Ruthie's
father taught his children to have what he called a PMA - Positive
Mental Attitude. He taught them to set goals and be committed to
achieving them. But most of all, Reverend Bolton taught his children the
importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Life as a professional athlete isn't as
glamorous as it sometimes seems. Ruthie Bolton has faced her share of
pressures and injuries and disappointments. But her faith in Jesus
Christ has seen her through.
