PPG Spokesman Ruch Retires; Worden Heads Public Relations

    PITTSBURGH--June 20, 2001--John S. Ruch, PPG Industries' manager of corporate public information, said he would retire July 1, concluding a PPG career spanning nearly 33 years.
    He will be succeeded by Jeffrey A. Worden, who was named manager of public relations and will be responsible for media relations and executive and internal communication.
    Ruch, 61, joined PPG in 1968 as public relations representative for chemical businesses and later managed a public relations staff serving all PPG businesses. He became eastern region public relations manager in New York City in 1976, returned to Pittsburgh in 1982 as corporate media relations manager, and has held his current post since 1998.
    Ruch came to PPG from the public relations staff of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., and earlier was a reporter for United Press International at bureaus in Pennsylvania and Ohio before managing UPI's Cleveland bureau.
    Active in community affairs, Ruch is president of Historic Harmony, which operates a local history museum and owns eight historic properties at Harmony, Butler County. He was a founder of the Greater Pittsburgh Museum Council and a Butler County Tourist Promotion Agency board member, and is a trustee of a New Jersey preservation group that owns a 1758 Quaker meeting house.
    While a Randolph Township, N.J., resident 1976-1982 he chaired the township's landmarks committee and was vice chair of its zoning appeals board, was local historical society vice president, and was a founder of a statewide landmarks commissioners organization.
    A member of the Overseas Press Club and the International Motor Press Association, Ruch is a native of Dresher, Pa., and attended Washington University. He and his wife, Shelby, a free-lance writer, have two sons and reside near Harmony.
    Worden, 40, joined PPG in 1998 as senior business writer responsible for executive speechwriting and investor presentations as well as public relations support. Previously he was senior speechwriter and manager of publications for six years at PNC Bank.
    A journalist for 15 years, Worden held management assignments of increasing responsibility at the Pittsburgh Press 1985-1992, becoming assistant sports editor.
    He is a native of Franklin, Pa., and a graduate of Ohio University's school of journalism. Worden is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and treasurer of its Pittsburgh chapter. He and his wife, Mary, have two daughters and reside in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mount Lebanon.

    Internet: www.ppg.com

    NOTE TO EDITORS: Jeff Worden may be reached by telephone at 1-412-434-3046 or by e-mail at worden@ppg.com.