Ruyak, an engineer, became well known in Minot for leading successful flood fights in the city in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1979, to save the city from disastrous flooding that could have rivaled the city’s flood of 1969.

Recently, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, posthumously honored Ruyak, of Remer, Minnesota, as one of its 2023 Hall of Fame inductees for his many years of work, including fighting floods in Minot.

The award was presented on June 28 at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District’s Summer Awards Picnic at the district’s Eau Galle Dam and Recreation Site at Spring Valley, Wisconsin.

Col. Eric Swenson, commander of the Corps’ St. Paul District, presented the award to Ruyak’s son, Marc Ruyak, who accepted it on behalf of his father. Several other Ruyak family members also attended.

Submitted Photo Marc Ruyak, second from right, Remer, Minn., accepted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ St. Paul District Hall of Fame award on behalf of his father, the late Jim Ruyak. From left to right are Marc’s wife Kerry Ruyak of Remer; Marc and Kerry’s daughter Avery Ruyak of Remer; Michelle (Ruyak) Ortner of Hudson, Wis.; Marc and Kerry’s daughter Brooklyn Ruyak of Remer; Mike McWhirter (Beth Ruyak McWhirter’s husband) of Sacramento, Calif.; Beth (Ruyak) McWhirter of Sacramento; and Marc Ruyak. At the far left is Kenton Spading, St. Paul, Minn., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ St. Paul District, who nominated Ruyak for the award. At the far right is Col. Eric Swenson, commander of the Corps’ St. Paul District.

Swenson, Marc Ruyak and Kenton Spading, an engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ St. Paul District who wrote the Hall of Fame nomination, all spoke at the ceremony.

“Jim has left a lasting legacy in the St. Paul district, and around the world in a variety of missions,” said Swenson at the Hall of Fame awards ceremony. “After an exceptional 59-year career, including a great history of fighting floods in this area, this honor is a lasting tribute to a committed public servant.”

Bob Schempp of Minot, who retired in January 1997 after 20 years as Minot city manager, worked with Ruyak during the floods in the city in the 1970s.

“He was a fantastic person to work with and did much for the city of Minot during the years that he was here. Everyone here fully appreciated him,” he said.

He said Ruyak’s name is on a local street, adding, “His memory is one that we all cherish. We were fortunate to have him serving the city of Minot.”

Eloise Ogden/MDN Ruyak Point in northwest Minot was named in honor of Jim Ruyak and his work during floods in Minot in the 1970s.

According to Corps information and the 21-page Hall of Fame nomination, Ruyak, former Mississippi River headwaters project area manager, was honored for a career with the Corps that spanned 59 years. After starting with the Pittsburgh District, the Pottstown, Pennsylvania, native, joined the St. Paul District in 1973 to work on constructing La Farge Dam at La Farge, Wisconsin.

During the 1970s floods in Minot, Ruyak became a hero to the people of the North Dakota city. His honors from Minot included receiving the Exceptional (Distinguished) Civilian Service award, the highest civilian award, and a key to the city, and he was made an honorary citizen. A local songwriter wrote “The Ballad of Jim” and a housing area in the city was named Ruyak Point. Several local women crocheted an American flag quilt, presented to him at a special ceremony. His work made local, state and national news and praises of his work in Minot were included in the Congressional Record in 1976.

In 1979 Ruyak became the project area manager for the six Mississippi River headwaters dams.

After the Persian Gulf war in 1991, Ruyak deployed on the first of three tours to Kuwait, for which he received the Superior Civilian Service award. After the 2001 twin towers attack and into 2019, Ruyak was assigned to the Transatlantic Division to recruit civilians for the Corps’ mission in Afghanistan. Ruyak died March 9, 2019, at the age of 84 at his home in Remer, Minnesota.

An editorial published in The Minot Daily News on March 20, 2019, said: “It is difficult this many years later to explain how much the people of Minot depended on Ruyak and placed their trust in the man. In some of those years, that trust was about the only hope Minot had going for it when it came to fending off the raging Mouse (Souris River). Ruyak was that much of a man.”

Submitted Photo This photo hangs in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District office’s hallway outside the Emergency Operations Center in St. Paul, Minn. A headline in this edition of The Minot Daily News in 1975 refers to Jim Ruyak.