Mrs. Ruth C. Neal celebrated her 100th birthday at a celebration at the Calaroga Terrace auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Mrs. Neal was born on Feb. 24, 1909 in Nashville, Tenn., where she graduated from high school and attended business college. She soon met and married Richard Neal. They moved to Laurel, Miss. and had two beautiful children, Richard Jr. and Ruth Helen. Mr. Neal owned and operated a drug store there.
In 1950, the family moved to Portland, where Mr. Neal worked as a railroad porter. He later became the first African American pharmacist in Oregon, and owned and operated a drug store in North Portland. Mrs. Neal worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs where she later retired. Both Ruth and Richard have been noted in the City of Portland's "Blacks in Oregon" documentary.
Above, from left, are Shirley and Christopher Dotye, of Nashville; Mrs. Ruth C. Neal, wearing her birthday tiara; her daughter Ruth Helen Neal; and Richard and Rubie McClure of San Pedro, Calif.
