Dover-Foxcroft man remembered for leadership

DOVER-FOXCROFT – His trademark may have been the unlit cigar stub he clenched between his teeth, but his legacy was his civic-mindedness.

Ruel Cross, 77, a hard-working man who spent a lifetime serving the public, died of cancer Sunday surrounded by his family at his West Main Street home.

“He was a real versatile person,” his longtime friend, Charles “Doc” Lightbody, said Wednesday. “At one time he was a grocer, butcher and a landlord, all at the same time.”

Since his time in the Navy in 1944, Cross was engaged in government, having served as a selectman, a member of the Maine House of Representatives, and most recently as a Piscataquis County commissioner.

“He wasn’t a person who sought notoriety,” Lightbody said. But when Cross spoke, he spoke his mind, he said. The retired doctor recalled that Cross worked at being a politician and noted that he made the rounds to about every home in his district when he campaigned for the House in 1992. “That’s how he got elected,” Lightbody said.

Harry “Pinky” True of Fryeburg, who roomed with Cross for six years while both served in the House, said Cross was just a “wonderful, wonderful person.” Cross had a broad knowledge of the state which he loved and the region he served, True said.

“He was sometimes set in his ways but that’s not so bad because it gets you thinking,” True said. Cross also had a set of ethics: A rule was a rule and was to be followed. For example, the House had a rule that limited a person’s discussion on a subject after that person had spoken out a number of times on an issue. All it took was an objection from another member for that person’s discussion to cease, but the rule apparently had been ignored.

“I couldn’t ever remember when anyone did that before,” True said. But after listening to a particular member give his position repeatedly on a rather controversial issue, True recalled hearing a voice object to further discussion by that member.

Looking around, he discovered the voice belonged to Cross. It was time, Cross said, to hear the positions of other members.

Like his commitment to public service, Cross enjoyed his family. He was extremely proud of his wife, Joyce, and his children, Judith Cross-Strehike and Jeffrey Cross, both of Dover-Foxcroft. He also had strong ties with his friends, sharing with some his passion for poker and his love of fly-fishing.

“Ruel epitomized rural Maine values and integrity,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said. “His decades of community and civic leadership coupled with his delightful sense of humor made him a friend to generations of Piscataquis County families and countless others throughout our state.

“He will be missed by all of those in public life as well as the many Mainers that he served,” she said.

To continue his legacy of civic-minded service, those who wish may send contributions in his memory to Pine Tree Hospice, 891 W. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, 04426.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church with the Rev. Ken Dale officiating.