- Dear Vivian and all of you that
loved and admired Bud,
- It is
totally fitting that we gather here at this place to
remember Bud.
- Bud's spirit lives here and is
all around us. For me, his memories and
- influences are everywhere. This
Val1ey was his cathedral, his comfort zone, his
- home. This is the place where
Bud's magnificent spirit could soar and his
- phenomenal thoughts and
imaginations flowed uncluttered. Nature was his
- truth and he devoted his
formidable energies and incredible intellect to
- preserve it.
- I first
met Bud not far from here about 15 years ago. I had
read
- something in the newspaper about
sand traps and various projects intended to
- reduce sediment deposition into
the Jordan River. Intrigued, I ventured down
- here to see for myself.
- From a
distance I watched and listened to this quiet man
who spoke
- volumes. We struck up a
conversation and, probably like most of you, I was
- immediately taken by his easy
style and keen mind. Before that day I didn't
- know that people like Bud
existed. This guy was for real, or maybe unreal. He
- was a walking encyclopedia of all
the things I wanted to know.
- I was
honored to be included with Bud in a select group of
people to
- found the Friends of the Jordan.
Bud was not only unanimously elected to be
- our first President for the next
seven years but truthfully, he was the only
- choice. He was THE man.
- Over
the years Bud set the tone, set the agenda and
guided this
- fledging organization into what
it is today. He was committed to openness and
- fairness. He graciously gave to
all of us the treasure trove of his vast
- knowledge. His incredible depth,
his life long affection for nature and his
- genuine love of learning
permeated our organization. He has been and always
- will be the “soul” of Friends of
the Jordan.
- I’ve
been a student of Bud's since the day we met. As an
understudy I
- relished his knowledge and
absorbed as much as I could. I watched and
- observed how he ran board
meetings and how he could keep the focus while
- letting everyone speak. In the
end he had the uncanny ability to cut through a
- complex issue to delineate the
essential points. I especially appreciated how
- well Bud treated people and how
he could warm a room with his boyish grin.
- Bud was
a genuine American Hero. He was a scientist, an
- environmentalist, a pilot, and a
life-long Student of life, a humble servant, a
- teacher, a principled clear
thinker and a man of uncompromising integrity. He
- was my friend. my mentor, my
teacher and my captain. He treated me like a
- son.
- I am
humbled and oppressed to think I am his heir
apparent and
- committed to carrying the torch
he lit and used so effectively to enlighten the
- rest of us. I will forever be
proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with
- Bud Jones to defend the Jordan
Valley.
- I am
forever grateful to have known you; Love John.
- (Footnote; During Bud's Memorial a Bald Eagle graced
the sky in a final tribute)
