From the Archives: Paul Robinson — Black and Blue Rosecombs

Paul Robinson devoted more than 60 years to breeding Rosecomb Bantams, interrupted only by his service in the United States Navy during World War II. His success began early. At just 12 years old, Paul won his first Best of Breed with a Rosecomb at a show in Ogden, Utah. At the first National Rosecomb Meet, held in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1948, he won Champion of the Show with a Black Rosecomb.

Paul was especially skilled at breeding Blue Rosecombs. At Oklahoma City in 1957, he earned four first-place awards and Best Blue Rosecomb in a class of 111 Blues—the largest class of Blue Rosecombs ever shown. He also raised several outstanding Blue Andalusian Bantams. During the height of the Rosecomb’s popularity in the 1950s, national meets routinely attracted between 250 and 300 entries. Even among that level of competition, Paul and the breeders who obtained birds from him consistently held their own in the show placings.

Despite his many accomplishments, Paul was always quick to credit those who came before him. His advertisements proudly stated that he was carrying on the Fred Clendenen line of Rosecombs. Paul was also a respected and popular poultry judge. At the height of his judging career, he judged an extraordinary 36 shows in a single year. He welcomed questions from breeders and exhibitors and was always willing to explain his placings, discuss the birds, and share his knowledge.

An enthusiastic photographer, Paul took countless pictures of exceptional poultry. At shows he judged, he would sometimes spend the evening presenting slide shows and offering detailed commentary on the birds pictured. His influence also reached the next generation of judges. Mt. San Antonio College in California asked Paul to teach a course in poultry judging, and several of his students later became American Poultry Association judges.

Paul Robinson was more than an accomplished breeder and judge. He was a generous teacher, an enthusiastic ambassador for exhibition poultry, and a friend to breeders wherever he went.