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THEODORA RUTHERFORD...years of waiting brings retirement careerIK.....Jfe--------------‘k- — • -----« — —C J— ----- — ” ----- ” -muinjiui’runState's First, Only Black Woman CPA Has Own Firm, Specializes In TaxesIt took a while for Theodora Rutherford of Institute to realize she wanted to be a CPA. But it required far, tar longer for her to reach her goat, an achievement that gained for her the distinction of being the first black woman CPA in West Virginia. Although that was in I960, she remains the only woman among the three black CPA's in the state, and one of 20 black women in the nation to have earned the designation.As a small girl, when Theodora was asked what she was going to do when she grew up. she replied promptly and proudly. *Tm going lo college. That's what she had been told from her earliest memory and even before she knew what college was, she never doubted that it was her destiny.The only variable in the stated ambition was that Theodora didn't wait until she grew up to go to college. She entered Howard University in Washington. D. C.. at the age of 15. Young as she was, this was not her first educational experience away from home. She had attended hoarding school for two years, beginning at the age of 5, because at that time in her native Louisiana public schooling for blacks consisted ol a scant four months a year. Boarding school she recalls as the most bitter experience of my life. and she gratefully reentered the public school system at the age of 7 when her family moved to Houston, Tex.At the onset Theodora thought her college major would be in math and physics, but she is happy that the dean persuaded her to switch to accounting. A scholarship student, she continued her education at Columbia University where she received a master’s degree in accounting at the age of 20.When 23. Theodora was engaged hy West Virginia State College to establish a business department. Ultimately she married another member Df *he «taff. During the Depression the policy was established that only one member of a family could be employed in a state institution. This automatically ended Theodora's career at Stale and she did not return to the faculty until she was widowed more than two decades later.For many years the well-educated accountant longed to become a Certifiedk ...........-...........*Public Accountant. But I didn't even try, she explains. 1 knew better. At that lime you were required to have five years' experience with an accounting firm to . qualify lor the test. I knew no one would hire me. I felt I would be discriminated against at that lime because I was a woman and because 1 was black.• Then the test became standardized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the A1CPA ruled m Ihe late 1950's lhat anyone with a master s degree in accounting was not required to have work experience to take the test. I passed in 1959. By that time I was back on the faculty at State, but I opened an accounting office in my home.By the time Theodora retired from her teaching position in 1973 she had been operating her home-based business for more than a dozen years with the assistance of a cnpahle staff. Since retirement her involvement in her accounting firm has blossomed into a full-time career 3nd she considers tax work her specialty if, indeed, she has one. She is assisted by a staff ol three, two full-time and one part-time.I do a little of everything, she says. My colleagues want to know why I don’t retire, but 1m just not the type to sit around reading books and playing cards all day long, even though I enjoy those things.As to why more black women have not become CPA's. Theodora advances several Jhcorics. I guess it may be because not many older Wack women have done it. she comments. Besides it is not an easy profession for men or women. There are lots of easier things to do.I have been very gratified to see more women going into accounting school in recent years. Most older people have encouraged young black women to go into teaching, but I certainly would encourage them to go into accounting if they are capable. Yon have to have an affinity for figures. I certainly have found being a CPA a rewarding profession and since I passed the test there has been no discrimination against me. none whatever.-ANN GRIFFITHi ‘ lt;* '
Newspaper Details
Charleston Daily Mail
Charleston, West Virginia, US
Wed, Jul 27, 1977
Page 32
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