Author’s Note: This tribute to Maurice D. Ruble Jr. of Budmar Persians would not have been possible without the assistance of IRENE ALLEN of Comesee Persians, LINDA FISHER of Inthewind Persians & DELINDA PEARSON of Koi Pond Persians. Thank you ladies for sharing with me your stories about an incredible man.
Maurice D. Ruble Jr. acquired his first Persian when he was just 14 years old. It was the beginning of a lifetime passion. To quote Maurice, “I just loved ’em, those Persian cats.”
When he decided to breed Persians, he spent six months searching for the right cat. He purchased a lovely cream female, Escada Micaela Pavlova of Budmar, DM, aka “Mickey”. In 1989, in her first litter, Mickey gave birth to the first Budmar homebred CFA Grand Champion — GC Budmar’s Stella by Starlight.
Right from the start Maurice had an eye and talent for breeding to the Persian standard. He credited his breeding program’s success to sticking to his goal of keeping the look of Micaela Pavlova. “I was able to obtain the look I wanted from my first cat. “
More than twenty cat generations later, Maurice still maintained his dedication to what became “The Budmar Look”.
A Breeder With A Capital “B”
Maurice was a student of pedigrees and a master at pairing the right cats together to produce his vision. He was a Breeder, with a capital “B”. On the other hand, Maurice really didn’t care much about competition and showing. He knew what he wanted and was confident in his own opinion. He didn’t need or seek outside validation or accolades.
Of course, the fact that he was more passionate about breeding than showing didn’t prevent him from being excited when he had a Budmar kitten that he knew had the “it” factor. He named one of his favorite calicos “Oh, Baby!” because that was what he exclaimed when she was born.
GC, GP, BW, NW Budmar Beyonce’ of Inthewind, DM
Because he didn’t show often, Maurice never thought he would have a Budmar cat that would earn a national win. Then in 2004, along came not one but TWO Budmar kitties that would change all that. The first was a dilute calico kitten named Beyonce. Remembering the night of Beyonce’s birth, Maurice recalled, “Beyonce was just born beautiful. She was in her mother’s first litter — an all-night delivery.”
A friend took Beyonce’ to a show for winners ribbons. She was benched next to Linda Fisher of Inthewind Persians. Linda frequently showed and granded Budmar kitties for Maurice. When she handled Beyonce for the first time, she thought Beyonce was the most beautiful cat she had ever had her hands on. At the end of the show Beyonce went home with Linda.
Linda took Beyonce’ to a show the next weekend where she was a 4-ring Grand and second highest scoring cat in Championship (to the cat that would be the eventual CFA Cat Of The Year of 2005). The show hall was abuzz with whispers — was the stunning dilute calico good enough to be a national winner?
Linda next took Beyonce’ to the huge National Capitol campaign show where she made a Best Cat in one ring and was 4th highest scoring cat in Championship.
In 2004, the prestigious CFA International Cat Show was held in Houston, Texas. There were 718 cats entered. Linda and Beyonce were there. By the end of the weekend, GC Budmar Beyonce’ of Inthewind was chosen as Best In Show. It was a stunning upset as Beyonce wasn’t even ranked in the top 25 cats nationally. After the win, Maurice talked about Beyonce.
“I just never expected in my wildest dream to have a cat that would win the World Show. Budmar Persians have won many Best in Shows, but never at a function like this. Beyonce had to beat a lot of cats to get there.”
Typical of Maurice’s generosity, he gave all the credit for the win to Linda.
“Linda has just been spectacular. She has Beyonce looking better than ever.”
Maurice was so thrilled with Best in Show at such a prestigious event . . .
“I still have not realized it. It’s just overwhelming to me. Such a win renews your belief and spurs you forward. It makes you want to do even better. It’s the dream that we breeders have.”
After the big win, Linda knew she had to keep showing. Beyonce was unstoppable. She went on to be CFA’s Third Best Cat In Championship for 2004-2005.
As co-owners, Maurice and Linda shared Beyonce’s litters but Maurice never made any mention of taking her back from Linda. He believed that Linda had earned the right to keep Beyonce forever.
Beyonce went on to add the title of Distinguished Merit to her name, proving her ability to pass her quality on to her kittens which included another national winner — GC, GP, BW, NW Inthewind Hollee’berrie. Beyonce’s grandson was CFA Cat Of The Year 2011 — GC, BW, NW Parti Wai Hear Me Roar.
After retiring from her breeding career, Beyonce’ returned to the show ring and repeated as a national winner at almost 10 years old when she was CFA’s 17th Best Cat In Premiership in 2012-13. In doing so, she became the most titled Budmar cat — GC, GP, BW, NW Budmar Beyonce’ of Inthewind, DM
Maurice loved breeding. Linda loved showing, so she continued to show and grand many cats for Maurice over the years. In Linda’s words,
“Maurice and I had a great partnership. He liked to play the show game from home. On the weekend he would look forward to my calls reporting the results from the show. The Budmar cats are my treasures. They are the basis for Inthewind’s great success with the bicolor Persians that I love so dearly.”
GP, NW Budmar Art Deco of Koi Pond
The same year Beyonce was sweeping up in Championship, another Budmar bicolor was taking the Premiership rings by storm.
DeLinda and Mathew Pearson of Koi Pond Persians were looking for their first show cat in 2003. They were lucky enough to meet Maurice. All newbies should be so fortunate. They told Maurice they weren’t ready to breed nor to have an intact male in the house but they were looking for a lifelong companion to show in Premiership. Maurice replied,
“That’s fine. I want Budmar cats to have good homes and lots of love first and foremost.”
Maurice had a black and white kitten that was available. He was the only kitten in his litter. His mother had required a C-section to deliver him. He was a BIG boy — 10 lb at 7 months. Maurice described the kitty,
“He has a head as big, round, and smooth as a dinner plate, and his forelegs are a thick as my forearms. He’s never met anyone he considers a stranger, and he knows no fear.”
Everything Maurice told them about the kitten was true. Because the kitty was a high white bicolor, and since she was a new exhibitor, DeLinda was worried about keeping the coat pristine. Maurice reassured her,
“Oh, that’s easy — you just treat him like a white.”
Despite their initial concerns, DeLinda and her husband proved more than up to the task of grooming and presenting the kitty to perfection. They showed the kitten now named “Deco” lightly in his first year and then started campaigning him in Premiership in the spring of 2004. They guided him to CFA’s 4th Best Cat In Premiership for 2004-2005. Their first show cat was a national winner — GP, NW Budmar Art Deco of Koi Pond!
When DeLinda decided she was ready to start breeding she again went to Maurice for advice,
“Do I buy pedigree or conformation?”
Maurice’s quick reply was,
“EVERY cat in a breeding program should have BOTH!” Good advice that she heeded well. Koi Pond Persians would go on to produce their own two homebred national winning kittens GC, NW Koi Pond’s Yum Sing in 2010 and GC, NW Koi Pond’s Chipolata in 2011.
The CFA Awards Banquet 2005
Having bred and co-owned TWO National Winners in a single season, you’d think that Maurice would be eager to attend the CFA Awards Banquet. Well, not necessarily. Those who knew Maurice well knew he was very much a homebody and hated crowds, attention and traveling. Maurice’s friends were determined that he be part of their celebration and so plans were made. Maurice’s best friend and soulmate was Irene Allen of Comesee Persians — a friendship that dated back to the very beginning of Budmar when Maurice bred Mickey to Irene’s male GC, RW Rambo’s Rebel Rouser of Traum, DM.
The few times that Maurice traveled, it was only with Irene’s company. So Irene drove to Tulsa, OK to help Maurice get ready and to accompany him on the big trip to the Annual in New Jersey. First, they went to rent him a tuxedo. During his fitting, Maurice had everyone in the place laughing and almost rolling on the floor with his wry sense of humor. That night, as Maurice and Irene were packing for the flight the next day to Atlantic City, all the electricity went out in the neighborhood. Maurice was a hairdresser and fortunately the beauty shop where he worked still had power so together Maurice and Irene washed, dried, ironed and packed at the shop until past midnight. Irene then held his Maurice’s hand throughout the plane flight — and almost the entire weekend.
With a lot of gentle coaxing and a few cocktails, his friends even convinced Maurice to accompany them on stage to receive the national awards the Budmar cats had earned.
You Will Be Missed, Maurice
The season following the wins of Beyonce and Deco, a third Budmar kitty reached the heights when the black and white girl GC, NW, BW Budmar’s Vanity Fair was CFA’s 9th Best Cat in Championship. Having “lived the dream” of having three Budmar national winners, it didn’t change who Maurice was or his goals as a breeder. In the following years Maurice continued his dedication to producing wonderful Persian cats and sharing them with other breeders.
Maurice passed away in April, 2014 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He was 63 years old. When asked her thoughts about Maurice, DeLinda Pearson wrote eloquently,
“Maurice was unique, idiosyncratic, and remarkable. He had an artist’s vision and a gift for being able to create out of genetics and biology a living version of the beauty of the Persian cat he could see in his mind’s eye. To his friends, he had a huge generous heart, and he always spoke his mind honestly and gave of his wisdom freely. Losing Maurice is a loss to all who knew him, and to all the cats and cat lovers that have benefited from what he shared with them.”
Maurice Ruble was one of a kind. His knowledge and his generosity remain an inspiration and a role model to us all. Rest in Peace, Sweet Maurice.
