Dr David S. Ruhe (1915-2005) was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and received Bioscience degrees at Michigan State College, followed by his M.D. and Sc.D.(Honorary) from Temple University School of Medicine. In his professional career he rose to Senior Surgeon in the U.S. Public Health Service, became director of the Medical Film Institute of the Association of American Medical Colleges, and, among academic appointments, was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medical Communication at Kansas University School of Medicine.

Coupled with his professional career, Dr Ruhe was active in both local and national Baha'i administration and teaching, was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States in 1959 and became its Secretary in 1963. Five years later he was elected to the Universal House of Justice. His service on the Baha'i Faith's supreme governing council extended for five terms of five years each until 1993.