Sometimes, the most unlikely leaders leave the biggest mark. Such was the case with Stubbs, the stub-tailed orange tabby who served as the honorary “mayor” of Talkeetna, Alaska, from 1997, when he was just a kitten found in a box, to 2017, when he passed away at the ripe old age of 20. His reign lasted two decades, and his legacy lives on in every tourist’s story and every postcard bearing his calm, knowing gaze.
From a Parking Lot Box to Town Mascot
In 1997, Lauri Stec, manager of Nagley’s General Store, found a box of kittens in her parking lot. She chose the one orange tabby that had no tail, earning him the name “Stubbs.” No one could have guessed that this tiny rescue would go on to become Talkeetna’s most famous “mayor.”
An Unlikely Election
Whether it was a distaste for the human candidates or just the whimsical charm, the townspeople voted Stubbs into symbolic office. Talkeetna, an unincorporated historic district of about 900 people, had no actual mayor, but now it had Stubbs.
Life in Office
Every afternoon, Stubbs held his court. He’d stroll into Nagley’s, hop onto the counter, and sip water infused with catnip from a wine or margarita glass. Tourists from around the world stopped in, often en route to Denali National Park, just to meet him. He became a beloved fixture and a major draw for the small town.
People would ask, “Where’s the mayor?” and be met with a purring greeting in return. He also received many, many letters and cards from around the world.
Survivor and Fighter
Stubbs wasn’t just charming – he was tough. In 2013, he survived a severe dog attack that left him with a punctured lung, a deep gash, and fractured sternum. Yet after nine days of vet care (funded by a global outpouring), he returned – wounded but undeterred.
Other brushes with danger included BB gun shots, a ride in a garbage truck, and a tumble into a deep fryer (thankfully turned off). Stubbs faced them all with a quiet grace.
A Gentle Farewell
As Stubbs aged, he slowed down but never stopped bringing joy to his town. He was still purring and still holding court. He passed away peacefully in July 2017. He lived to 20 years and three months, an age equivalent to a human in their 90s. He left behind a legacy of kindness, resilience, and community spirit.
His caretakers, the Spone family, who took over Nagley’s store, said, “He was a trooper until the very last day.”
After his passing, his spirit quietly passed on to another kitty: a new mayor-in-training named Denali, who followed Stubbs’ pawprints in charm, calm, and community connection.
A Legacy Beyond Politics
Stubbs proved that leadership isn’t about speeches or power, it’s about presence, connection, and a little bit of magic. For Talkeetna, the mayor who never passed a law left something far more important: memories. In Talkeetna, that was enough.
Featured image by Jenni Konrad
