Ruth Lee McConnell nacque nel 1912 a Columbia City un piccolo centro dell'Indiana del Nord e nel 1974 è stata la prima donna a ricoprire la carica di Presidente della ACBL.

 Ruth ha anche ricoperto altre importanti cariche federali tra cui quelle di Tesoriere del WBF Executive Council, Chairman dell'ACBL Board of Directors e Chairman Emeritus del WBF Finance Committee.

 Ruth ha capitanato le rappresentative femminili USA che hanno partecipato alle Olimpiadi del 1976 (arrivando terza) e del 1980 (arrivando prima) e alle Venice Cup  del 1974, 1976 e 1978 (prestigioso tris di vittorie).

 Come giocatrice, Ruth ha anche collezionato alcuni titoli di livello nazionale.

 La WBF per riconoscere i suoi meriti come organizzatrice e promotrice di venti legati al bridge le ha intitolato fin dal 1993 la McConnell Cup, una competizione a squadre femminili che si svolge in un numeroso agone durante i Campionati Mondiali.

 Ruth è scomparsa nel dicembre del 2000.

  Of Columbia City, Indiana, Ruth McConnell was the first woman president of the American Contract Bridge League, elected in 1974. She was also the first woman Board of Directors Chairman, beginning in the year 1975. 

She was also the first woman president of the ACBL Charity Foundation beginning in the year 1975. And she was also the first woman elected, to the Executive Council of the World Bridge Federation and served from 1985 to 1993.

Shortly after her election she was named Treasurer of the World Bridge Federation and served until 1990. Ruth McConnell was npc (non-participating captain) of the United State’s Women's Olympiad Team in 1976 and 1980 and Venice Cup team in 1974, 1976, and 1978 and was instrumental in upgrading the Venice Cup to a World Bridge Federation championship. 

Her efforts continued over five years, but in 1978 the World Bridge Federation designated the bridge event as a World Championship event.

She also established the first formal District Judiciary Committee (1970) now required by all Districts. 

She founded the Midwest Monitor and served as its editor from 1963 to 1967. 

Among her many achievements were winning the Spring Continent-wide Charity Game 1967, District 11 Mixed Pairs 1968, Mississippi Valley Women's Pairs 1970 and 1981, Spring secondary Olympiad Fund Pairs 1980, Open Pairs, Swiss 1986, and Senior Swiss in 1987.

In 1993, the World Bridge Federation established the McConnell Cup, named in honor of Ruth McConnell, a knockout teams event for women to be played at the World Bridge Championships along side the competition for the Rosenblum Cup, an open event.

Ruth McConnell died in December 2000, at the age of 88 years.