Ruben T. Ross was a three-year track letterman and standout at the University of Oregon from 1926 to 1928 for coach Bill Hayward. He participated in the U.S. Olympic Track & Field trials in 1928.

He was a co-founder of the Oregon Empire Athletic Foundation that evolved into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He was a founding director of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame board of directors.