"Bud Kurtz"

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

Bud Kurtz is the official unofficial town greeter.  Wave back and give a honk; now you are a local.

Bud, along with his sons operate the Kurtz Refinishing at 8301 N. 30th, which is right across from the Mormon Park.  Bud is in a wheelchair now 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.  It became a tradition to honk back.  If you are walking along Mormon Park and you hear a lot of honking, they might not be honking at you.  Take a look across the street and see if Bud is "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 dummy 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 has recuperated, and we hope he has many more years to go.  We have already learned that there is no replacing Bud.