Reed Budge

Reed William Budge (January 7, 1921 – August 7, 1987) was a politician and rancher in the U.S. state of Idaho. He resided in Soda Springs, Idaho.

Reed Budge
35th President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate
In office
1978–1982
Preceded byPhil Batt
Succeeded byJim Risch
Member of the Idaho Senate
from District 32
In office
1967  December 1, 1986
Personal details
Born(1921-01-07)January 7, 1921
Logan, Utah, USA
DiedAugust 7, 1987(1987-08-07) (aged 66)
Soda Springs, Idaho
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Gwen Steffensen
ChildrenDoug, Linda, Randy, Brian, Suzanne
Alma mater
Occupation
  • rancher
  • legislator

Budge was born in 1921 in Logan, Utah to Thomas and Duella Budge.[1] He was a relative of former U.S. congressman Hamer H. Budge and Idaho Supreme Court justice Alfred Budge. Budge graduated from Utah State University in 1946 and also attended University of Chicago Medical School.[1] He served in Europe during World War II as a medic in the United States Army with General George Patton's 2nd Armored Division, Hell on Wheels, and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. During his military service Budge was awarded a Purple Heart and 3 Bronze Star Medals for "acts of valor in combat" (Normandy, Northern France, and Germany Campaigns). On January 5, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, Budge distinguished himself by "gallantry in action" near the town of Beffe, Belgium and was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

In 1963, Budge was elected county commissioner of Caribou County, Idaho. Later, in 1967 he was appointed to complete a term as a Republican in the Idaho State Senate.[2] During his time in the state senate for the 32nd district, Budge sat on transportation, health, environment, education and welfare committees.[2] He was elected as pro tempore of the Idaho Senate in 1978, serving until 1982 when he was succeeded by Jim Risch. Budge also maintained an attendance record, described by a newspaper as "one of the most remarkable", not missing a senate session for 12 years until 1978, when a family death forced him to miss one.[3] He retired from the senate in 1986.[4] Budge suddenly died one year later at his home in Soda Springs of an aneurysm, aged 66.[4]

He married Gwen Steffensen in 1943 and had five children, Reed Douglas, Linda Duella, Randall Christian, Brian William, and Suzanne.[1]

Budge was a cattle rancher in Soda Springs, Idaho.

References

  1. Who's who in government - Marquis Who's Who, LLC, Biographical Research Bureau - Google Books. 1977. ISBN 9780837912035. Retrieved 2012-08-13 via Google Books.
  2. "Sen. Reed Budge: 'I'm a cowboy, really'". The Lewiston Morning Tribune. February 22, 1976. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  3. "Reed Budge attendance record comes to end". Lewiston Morning Tribune. March 8, 1978. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  4. Associated Press (August 8, 1987). "Heart attack takes veteran senator". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
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