Obituary

FREMONT HILLS, Mo. -- Gene Ruble, who was a four-time all-conference basketball player for Missouri State from 1947-50, has passed away at the age of 92.

Ruble was the first prolific scorer in Bears' basketball history and remains the only MSU player to ever to gain all-conference honors four consecutive seasons. The Lebanon native played in all 100 career games and led the MIAA in scoring in 1947. He was named the outstanding player in the conference in both 1949 and 1950 as he helped lead the Bears to two straight conference titles.

At the end of his career, he held MSU records for most points by a freshman (215), most points in one season (451 in 1948-49), most field goals in one season (164 in 1948-49), most free throws in one season (123 in 1948-49), most field goals in a career (532), most free throws in a career (342), most games played (100), and most points. He was also the leading career scorer in the history of the MIAA conference at the time.

Today, Ruble still ranks 12th in Bears' history with 1,406 career points.

Funeral services and military honors will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Adams Funeral Home, Ozark. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Friday until service time. Burial will be at a later date in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield.