LETTER: Woody loved to defeat pessimism

To The Telegram:

He was Douglas County -- all the way.

The King of Promotion.

A giant of a man.

A mover and a shaker, an event maker.

He could walk the walk and talk the talk with the best of them.

And, he was without a doubt one of our state's biggest fans.

Wisconsin was where it was all at -- with this man.

For he was an ambassador in every sense of the word -- of goodwill and good times.

Woody Budnick left his mark on many a Northland event and on many a resident, and he will be greatly missed.

There will never, ever be another one like Woody.

He was a gem of a man who believed in the beauty of our state and in discovering it over and over again.

He loved the track and he liked life fast and hard.

Ideas sprang from this man -- like fields of yellow dandelions overnight.

His spark and his fire and determination were infectious.

He could rev up support for anything he believed in.

Or he could tone it way down to a neutral.

He knew how to play without ever being called just a player.

His loyalty to a cause and to a person he believed in was second to none.

He had emotion.

He had passion.

And, he always had work to be done in this mission of life.

You could count on Woody, for the long haul or overhaul.

Yes, you could.

And, we all did at one time or another whether we knew it or not -- he, Woody Budnick was always working for the betterment of us all -- where we live and where we work and where we play and raise our kids.

He wanted better. Better everything.

And, Woody would try anything to get it.

Any way. Any day. Any how.

A magician of all magicians.

He could pull a rabbit out of his hat, well almost.

He tried the many things that others said would fail, for above all else, he loved to defeat pessimism and change the way things were perceived and done before.

He was tried and he was true.

And, Woody didn't take no for an answer and could push forward with an innate vision when others retreated.

So many things ... from events to the way things are done in Douglas County carry his stamp.

Woody left his mark on a path, that unfortunately has come to an end, too soon.

He'll be missed.

-- Deb Krieg, former vice president, Superior Douglas County

Chamber of Commerce