Ruel Houchens, a Houchens Industries executive, dies at 81

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 18, 2010

GLASGOW — Ruel Houchens, 81, of Glasgow, died Sept. 17, 2010, at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville.

He was born June 20, 1929. He married Nell Jackson on Sept. 7, 1950. After returning to Glasgow as a veteran of the Korean War, Ruel began his career with Houchens Markets under the tutelage of his uncle, Ervin Houchens, founder of Houchens Grocery. Ruel was active with Houchens Industries for more than 40 years, taking what Ervin Houchens started in Lucas and built the company to more than 50 Houchens Markets and 150 Save-A-Lot food stores. He worked in the stores, traveled on the road to each store and later became president and chairman of the board for Houchens. After Red Foods bought Houchens in the 1980s, Ruel became CEO and chairman of the board. Ruel was the key player in the establishment of the ESOP of Houchens Industries, which is the largest employee stock ownership plan in the world. Ruel always had a heart for children, taking part in raising many children as if they were his own. He was instrumental in organizing the Glasgow-Barren County Boys & Girls Club, which was formed in 2006, and had continued to play a major role in its support. Ruel was key to the success of the Kentucky Boys and Girls Ranch and was also instrumental in the establishment of Glasgow Success Academy and Tee to Green. Ruel always gave strong support to the community and was a huge supporter of Community Medical Care, for which he received the Centurion Award. Among Ruel Houchens’ philanthropies was Ruel and Nell Houchens Charitable Foundation, and he was a huge supporter of the Plaza Theatre. He and other partners have helped start communities in Africa, Sri Lanka and India through Compassion International, which currently helps 5,000 to 6,000 children in orphanages. He was also involved with 4Kids of South Florida, which works toward improving the foster care system. In 1991, Ruel joined forces with other partners to form a new partnership developing restaurant ventures in several states over the next few years. He was a son of the late Buford Houchens and Gladys Steenbergen Houchens. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Glen and James Houchens; and a brother-in-law, Hurshel Glass.

Funeral is at 1 p.m. Monday at A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, with burial in Glasgow Municipal Cemetery with military honors provided by DAV Chapter 20 of Glasgow. Visitation begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County, Houchens Unit.

Survivors include his wife, Nell; a brother, Suel Houchens and his wife, Virginia, of Bowling Green; two sisters, Ruth Glass and Linda Freeman and her husband, Jimmie, all of Glasgow; two sisters-in-law, Patty Houchens of Bowling Green and Barbara Sledge of Florida; and several loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.