By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Mayrene Bates is a “gem” in Solano County.

The winner of this year’s Ruby Award, Bates was nominated by Soroptimist Lynn Recknagel for the award that honors non-Soroptimist women who are making extraordinary efforts on behalf of other women.

It’s named after Ruby Lee Minar, who often preached at Sunday services in place of her father. She went on to earn a master’s degree in biblical studies and patristic Greek.

And, just like Bates, Minar was a teacher. She later became a real estate developer and, in 1922, was selected as first president of the Washington, D.C. Soroptimist Club. Six years later, Minar was chosen as Soroptimist International’s first national club president and helped form the International Federation of Soroptimist Clubs.

Source: Mayrene Bates: Ruby Award