At the fourth installment of the local Women’s Leadership Institute’s luncheon lecture series today, former Chattanooga Times publisher Ruth Holmberg responded with candor to questions.

During the event, held at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Ms. Holmberg discussed her groundbreaking role as a woman in the newspaper publishing industry, as well as her time working for the American Red Cross, as a young American Jewish woman in Germany during the aftermath of World War II.

“I can’t say I was afraid, but it was not pleasant,” she said. “We didn’t go to Germany until peace was declared, but it was shortly afterwards.”

Questions were posed by facilitator Dr. Carolyn Thompson and audience members.

Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Holmberg was the first woman to serve as president of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Chattanooga Symphony Association.

Ms. Holmberg also was a founding member of the Tennessee Arts Commission and previously served as chairwoman of the Hunter Museum of Art board of directors. She is on the board of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Public Education Foundation and the Chattanooga Symphony Opera Association.

Dr. Thompson led the interview, which included questions from the audience of about 200 people. After the event, Dr. Thompson said of Ms. Holmberg, “She is very funny, very self-effacing and so incredibly accomplished.”

See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for complete coverage.

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