Teresia Ruckman Reed carries pioneer legacy in Fourth of July parade
MEEKER | Teresia “Terri” Ruckman Reed never imagined she’d be riding at the front of Meeker’s Fourth of July parade—let alone as the Grand Marshal, but this year, with the theme “Women of the West,” there is no better choice.
Growing up, she was surrounded by stories of grit, resilience and determination — qualities that defined the women in her family who helped shape the White River Valley more than a century ago.
This year, Reed will be Grand Marshal of Meeker’s Fourth of July 140th Range Call Parade. As she rolls down Main Street on top of the historic stagecoach, she sees it not just as an honor, but as a tribute to the generations of the strong pioneer women that came before her.
“I’m pretty humbled, because I don’t necessarily consider myself a woman of the West. However, I am a descendant, and the only remaining descendant, of an entire series of great women of the West,” stated Ruckman Reed.
Reed’s great-grandfather Thomas Lee Ruckman arrived in the White River Valley in 1895 at just 12 years old after traveling west by wagon with his family from Missouri. He would eventually return to the valley on his own after a falling-out with his stepfather, believing it to be the land his late father had once described as “the land of God.”
Among the most influential figures in Teresia Ruckman Reed’s family was her great-grandmother, Emma, whose strength and cunning became legend. In one story, Emma confronted cattle drivers who had swept up her family’s milk cows on their way to market, leaving her without a way to support her household. The following year, Emma built corrals and filled them with grain, luring the cattle back as they passed through. When the riders returned to reclaim their stock, she simply replied, “Last year you took mine. I’m taking them back—with interest.”
Emma and her husband also purchased a 1940 Buick in the 1940s, a cherished item now displayed in the museum that symbolizes the family’s deep roots and lasting legacy in the White River Valley, dating back to their arrival by wagon in the 1800s.
Ruckman Reed went more into detail of why her great-grandmother Emma might be the most influential figure in her life.
“She stood up for herself, she took care of her family, and she raised eight children—all of whom became women of the West in their own right,” Ruckman Reed said. “That’s the kind of legacy I hope to represent in even the smallest way.”
Two of Emma’s daughters—Reed’s relatives—made especially notable contributions. Audrey Ruckman Oldland helped run A. Oldland and Company, a longtime family business. Carrie Ruckman Massey was one of Meeker’s first schoolteachers and later retired from the Denver Public School system. “Both of them made their mark on our community and set an example for me,” Reed said.
Reed returned to Meeker nine years ago with her husband, Scott, to help care for her father. She soon opened a sewing and repair shop downtown—offering everything from dress alterations to saddle and OHV equipment repairs—providing essential services that help keep the community running.
“I sew everything from dresses to OHV gear, so people don’t have to drive five hours to Denver and wait months for repairs,” she said. “It’s just one more way I serve the community I love,” Ruckman Reed stated.
Teresia Ruckman Reed’s services don’t stop there. She has led the Rio Blanco County Historical Society as both board president and, now, executive director at the White River Museum. She has helped renovate the Heritage Culture Center, reorganize the museum, and reestablish popular local events. She also sits on several boards, including the cemetery district, and works with the mortuary.
This Fourth of July, Reed is looking forward to enjoying the celebration with a lighter load. With family coming to town for a cousins’ gathering and a class reunion scheduled the same weekend, she’s delegated her usual responsibilities and plans to be present for the moment.
“This will be the first Fourth of July where I’ve delegated many of my museum responsibilities to others, so I’m really looking forward to just spending time with family and friends—especially since we have a class reunion and a cousins’ gathering happening the same weekend,” said Ruckman Reed.
Asked what message she’d like to share with young girls and women watching the parade, Ruckman Reed didn’t hesitate.
“Stand up for yourself,” she said. “And never choose to be a victim.”
As the town of Meeker Colorado prepares to celebrate its 140th Fourth of July Range Call celebration, Teresia Ruckman Reed’s leadership and dedication serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and spirit of the women who built the West — and of the legacy they continue to inspire in generations to come.
