A native of Connecticut where he was an outstanding high school and college distance runner, Howard Rubin came to the Utica area in 1958.

He resumed serious running in 1970 and has gone on to set 10 national age-group records, five Empire State Games records, and has finished second or third in three World Championships.

Born in Waterbury, Rubin was captain of both track and cross-country at Norwich (Connecticut) High School and at the University of Connecticut. He graduated from the university in 1950.

The next four years were spent in the U.S. Air Force. During a two-year tour of duty in England, he was captain of the All-England USAF track team, finishing first in the 800-yard and three-mile races in 1953.

After his discharge, Rubin continued working as an Auditor for the Air Force as a civilian, first in Schenectady, than at General Electric in Utica. In 1960, he joined the Rome Air Development Command at Griffiss Air force Base in Rome. He retired in 1984.

Rubin's national records were set in the 1980's: four in the 5-kilometer run, four at 30- kilometers, one at 8-kilometers and one at 25-kilometers. Three of his records were still standing in 1992.

He was ranked the outstanding distance runner in Masters competition in the 55-59 age group by The Athletic Congress (TAC) in 1984, 1985, and 1986.

He won 13 Gold medals in TAC national championship events from 1978 to 1991 at distances ranging from 5K to 30K.

At the 1983 World Games, Rubin placed third in the 1,500-meter run and second in the 5,000-meter run in the 55-59 age group. In the 1984 World Veterans competition, he placed third in the 10,000-meter. He has won the age group title five times in the Utica Boilermaker Road Race.

In addition to his personal achievements, Rubin is still an enthusiastic promoter and coach. He started the Development Runs at the parkway in Utica, and has coached cross-country at Clinton Central High School since 1987.