He was born April 21 1921 in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania to Harry Franklin Rugh & Rachel Agnes (nee Paul).

Lt. (later Captain) Samuel Paul Rugh flew transport aircraft "over the hump" (The Himalayas) in Burma during WWII. He later was a fighter pilot in the Korean War.

He survived two wars, only to die while flying a T-33 in a "peacetime" cross-country training mission over Albany Georgia on April 5, 1955.

When he developed engine problems, he elected to stay with his aircraft rather than bail out over a populated area. Captain Rugh left three children: Paula, Samuel, and Timothy.

He was buried in a cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.