Ken Ruby
Kenneth Darrol James Ruby QSM (14 August 1921 – 10 September 2011) was a New Zealand wrestler who represented his country at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He was later a wrestling referee and judge. Early lifeRuby was born on 14 August 1921, and grew up in Wellington.[1] He was educated at Rongotai College, and went on to work at the Wellington Paper Company.[1] During World War II, Ruby served with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force and saw active service in the Pacific.[1][2] WrestlingA member of the Kilbirnie Gym, Ruby won the New Zealand national amateur wrestling championship in the featherweight division in 1948.[1][3] At the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Ruby competed in the bantamweight division.[4] He lost his opening two bouts, against Ian Epton representing Northern Rhodesia[5] and Muhammad Amin from Pakistan,[6] and was eliminated to place fifth overall.[7] At the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Ruby was a referee and judge, and in 1980 he was awarded life membership of the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Association.[1] Later life and deathRuby moved to Wanganui in 1954, and worked for Weeks Printing Company and then New Zealand Railways.[1] He established a wrestling gym in Wanganui, and worked with local police to set up a club to increase children's participation in sports.[1] He retired to Tauranga in 1983.[1] In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ruby was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.[8] Ruby died in Tauranga on 10 September 2011.[1] References
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