A. B. Hudson

A.B. "Bob" Hudson

March 8, 1923 – February 16, 2008





A.B. "Bob" Hudson, 84 of Maple Hill, Kansas passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at his home in Wichita Falls, Texas due to complications of lung cancer.



Survivors include Peggye McNair; his daughter Michele Rothe of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; his sons John Hudson of Topeka and Tom and his wife Cindy Hudson of Tucson, Arizona; his grandchildren, Nathan, Rachele, Nichole and Angela; and niece Joyce and her husband Ben Sharp. Extended family includes Peggye's sons Russell Moore and family of Alpine, Texas and Morgan Moore and family of Santa Monica, California. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Allie Hudson; his brothers and sister, T.J., M.R. and Mary Hudson.



Mr. Hudson found lasting love late in life, but he and Peggye had 12 beautiful years traveling the world, working the land and enjoying the camels together in health and happiness.



A.B. was born in Athens, Texas on March 8, 1923 and moved to Kansas at age 7 where he worked with his brothers after school as a partner in Hudson Oil Company. At age 16 Bob began working full time in Hudson Oil. Hudson Oil was later sold to Koch Oil. Bob began his own companies, Workingman's Friend and Highway Oil, in 1958, which grew to include over 700 employees. He later moved his office and 14 employee families to Topeka to be closer to his ranch land. At one time Bob was the single largest landowner in the State of Kansas.



Mr. Hudson was an innovative steward of the land and a true gentleman of great wisdom, who by clearing the land returned it to beautiful grasslands with running water and bubbling springs. Bob was also one of the largest independent cattleman in Kansas and Texas for many years. He added camels to his portfolio and is now the largest camel breeder in America.



A.B. was an anonymous benefactor in so many areas including rebuilding churches, supporting museums, and most recently creating a Foundation to help rebuild Greensburg, Kansas homes after the devastating tornado in 2007. He was a major benefactor of the Mayo Foundation. Bob was a lifetime member of the Shriners and he was in the Mounted Patrol. He and his beloved horse, Hobo, made appearances all over the United States from California to the White House.



Bob received too many lifetime honors and achievements to list but was most proud of his agricultural impact and its effect on the world. Bob's latest project was a devotion to wind energy to further preserve mother earth.



Bob's only other great love was quail hunting which he did four months out of the year for 56 years. He recently completed his autobiography, "Life of a Dropout."



Rancher, businessman, entrepreneur, inventor, world traveler and benefactor, Bob will be remembered in many ways and missed by all. His wisdom, guidance, love and compassion for family and employees will be dearly missed. Many of Bob's employees have been with him for over 47 years and all are considered family.



A Celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 22, 2008 at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, and for those unable to attend, it will be broadcasted live at www.PenwellGabel.com. A second service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost, Kansas City, Missouri. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. Bob will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel after 3:00 p.m. Thursday.



Should anyone desire, you may join Bob in supporting the Shriners. Bob's life desire upon his death was to leave his entire estate to the Shriners to assist in building more Shriners Crippled Childrens Hospitals and Burn Centers across the United States. Memorial contributions may be sent to Arab Shrine, 1305 S. Kansas Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66612 or Ararat Shriners, 5100 Ararat Drive, Kansas City, Missouri, 64129.