"Bud Kurtz"

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If you look closely at the streetscape that shows up ever so often on the home page and others, you will see Bud Kurtz sitting at the right side, just like we used to see him when driving north on 30th Street.

Bud Kurtz was the official-unofficial town greeter.  You were supposed to “Wave back” and give a honk; then you were a local.

Bud, along with his sons operated the Kurtz Refinishing at 8301 N. 30th, which was right across from the Mormon Park.  Bud was in a wheelchair for the last few years he greeted visitors but way before Bud needed the wheelchair, he set a chair up most times when he was free to take in some fresh air, and wave to passersby if the weather was permitting.  It became a tradition to honk back.  If you were walking along Mormon Park and you heard a lot of honking, they might not have been honking at you.  If you had looked across the street, you might have seen Bud was "back on duty."

Several years back, Bud got sick, so after a few days of "off-duty" his sons set up a chair and placed a mannequin in it to wave to the crowds.  Of course, everyone noticed that it really wasn't Bud, but no one expected that so many were worried that Bud was no more.  Finally, the word got around that Bud was "off-duty" for a while but hadn't left us yet.  Bud recuperated, and had many more years to greet folks.  Bud passed away in 2006.  Even though Bud is no longer on duty, we have learned that there is no replacing Bud.