The Birthday Party

Mr. Ralph Moore and his son, Keith Moore

On Sunday, January 14, 2007, the 100 birthday of Ralph Moore was celebrated at the Visalia Convention Center. Over 300 friends and family were in attendance to wish Mr. Moore congratulations. A power point presentation showed Mr. Moore's entire life from pictures of when he was a small child with his siblings, his wedding to Ann Newberg and to his almost 70 year career in roses.

Recognitions from the rose world included the Gold Medal from the WFRS that was presented on Saturday. The American Rose Society presented Mr. Moore a Presidental Citation. Ann Bird, President of the Royal National Rose Society of Great Britain traveled from London to present Mr. Moore the "Queen Mother International Rose Award for 2007". She has been a great admirer of Ralph Moore for many years and said this was the highlight of her term as President to be able to meet Mr. Moore.

Mr. Moore received several proclamations including the California state assembly and senate, the city of Visalia, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors and the U.S. House of Representatives. The highlight of the birthday event was the presentation of a $1 million gift to the University of California, Davis to the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The contribution will fund a position for a professor to continue Mr. Moore's decades of work in studying and breeding new roses and other plant varieties. The endowement was given from the sale of his 5-acre nursery.

The birthday event concluded with many stories and thank yous from Mr. Moore's friends and family. Mr. Moore's thanked everyone for sharing his birthday. He concluded saying he had made so many friends because he has spread a love of gardening most of his life, and gardening is good medicine. "It's better medicine than a doctor gives you."

The Birthday Cake featured fresh miniature roses grown in Mr. Moore's greenhouses.

Mr. Moore's cutting his birthday cake with one of his granddaughters.

Ann Bird, President of the Royal National Rose Society of Great Britain reads the Citation from the Board of Trustees of the Royal National Rose Society.