About

The Devon Rex Breed Club

Originally written by Ann Gibney
Updated 2016

The Devon Rex Breed Club was chartered in CFA in October of 1979. Prior to that year, Devon Rex held a unique position in the Cat Fanciers’ Association. Though genetically incompatible with all other Rex, they were lumped in with them for showing and breeding purposes under the single name Rex. The first breeding Devons had come over with Marion White and her daughter Anita in 1968. Recognition by ACFA in 1972 had led to the establishment of fewer than 10 Devon catteries throughout North America. Two letters by Marion White to powers in CFA about the genetic nonsense of the lumping the Rex breeds together had gone unanswered. Only the dedication and common sense of the breeders then active prevented the production of straight-coated mixed-Rex kittens or the shift of the Devon look to meet the Cornish standard.

In 1978, a new breeder, Ann Gibney, was informed that those who stood in the way of the proper separation were willing to stand aside. The Board recognized Devons for separate registration in 1979, with the Breed Club founded to coordinate the recognition process. Founding members were Marion White, Anita White, Ann Gibney, Becky Curneen, Maureen Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. P. Booth, Victoria Hay, Mr. and Mrs. Kirkham, Frank and Wendy Chappell, Bob and Shirley Lambert, and E. Bollig, and, showing support from our Cornish friends, Beth Sparks and Robert Fleet.

Club activities in the early years were focused mostly on recognition. Newsletters were short, composed by Ann Gibney to tell of the results of CFA Board action. Ann, sometimes accompanied by Marion White, Beth Sparks, or Priscilla Hobbs, went to Board meetings at least once a year until 1983. Showing in all seven regions was coordinated by the club, and the requisite proposals for advancement were produced under its auspices.  Since 1981, the club has always had a delegate at the CFA Annual Meeting.

Club activities have grown since the late 80’s, when the membership finally grew to over 20. In 1990, Lewis and Clark Longhair Specialty Cat Club, Inc., an allbreed club despite its name, featured the Devon Rex at its allbreed cat show in Portland, OR. Twenty-five Devons were there, with owners coming from all over the country! This watershed event proved that we had the enthusiasm to gather together despite our small numbers. Since then, the Devon Rex Breed Club has consistently sponsored rings at Allbreed shows, in various parts of the country.  In 1997, the name “Devon Heaven” was officially designated for these events.

After the tragic death of Allan Kienzle, who was a CFA Judge, Devon Breeder, and former president of the Devon Rex Breed Club, some of his friends in Chicago had a perpetual trophy made to donate to the Devon Rex Breed Club for CFA’s Best Devon each year. This trophy has been inscribed with the name of each since 1991.

The Devon Rex Breed Club honored Gerri Logan, Loganderry and Derry-Hill, in 2015 by establishing the Gerri Logan Kitten Award.  This was done in recognition of her outstanding commitment, and valuable contributions, to the   Devon Rex breed.

In 2016 the Devon Rex Breed club honored Beryl Peters by establishing the Beryl Peters Premiership Award. Beryl joined the DRBC in 1995.  She was equally devoted to her beloved Devons and to the Club.   Her involvement in the DRBC was long standing and substantial. 

The club that began as a small group and remained at fewer than ten members for almost ten years has grown dramatically over the years. Activities, comradeship, and education not available to those early, geographically dispersed breeders are now offered to all.

DRBC Officers Over Its History