Arthur L. "Lud" Ludwick

Lud was born in Kansas City. Misouri in 1913, on the verge of World War One. His father was in the Army and each of his first three years of school were in different states during the war.

The family finally settled in Overland Park, Kansas, where Lud attended 4th grade through high school.

He received a Bachelor's Degree from the Univ. of Kansas followed by an M.D. from Kansas Univ. in 1936. Lud interned at Ancker Hospital in St. Paul, Minnasota with medical residency at The Hertzler Clinic, Halstead, Kansas. He practiced in Waterloo, Iowa for three years.

Then, in 1941, on the verge of another World War, Lud joined the Army with the understanding that he would be eligible for discharge in one year. In October of that year, he and Jean were married, 7 weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Ten months after the wedding, Lud was on his way overseas, to the First Combat Division in the European Theater of War.

He served in the Army for five years, 28 months of which were overseas in the 34th Combat Division in North Ireland, North Africa and Italy.

Lud and Jean have two grown children:

• Jack, an attorney in Bellevue, WAshington
• Peggy, a Medical Technician in Yakima but a stay-at-home mother.

Lud says, "We have 5 grandchildren, all of whom are "Great."

Lud, in uniform as a major on terminal leave, arrived in Wenatchee in October 1945, with Jean and Jack, to begin a medical practice with Dr. Bevis, in the Savings and Loan Building. It was a General Practice of Medicine, including obstetrics and surgery.

He separated from Dr. Bevis 6 years later in 1951, with the formation of Wenatchee Family Practice with partners Wayne Zook and Tom Ross. This partnership practice continued for 37 years, until 1988, when the Wenatchee Family Practice joined the Wenatchee Valley Clinic.

For several years Lud served on the Board of Chelan County Medical Service Corporation which was one of the first medical insurance organizations in Washington State. The Greater Wenatchee Foundation was financed by proceeds from the 1985 sale of the doctor-owner insurance business to Blue Cross, plus the sale of their medical insurance service building. Lud then served on the board of the Greater Wenatchee Community Foundation for several years.

Jean was a practicing Medical Technician before marriage. In 1987, after the home-maker years, Jean was elected to serve as a Chelan County Public Utility District Commissioner. She was the first female P.U.D. Commissioner in the state and served two six-year terms.
Jean and Lud are both active in the First Presbyterian Church.

Lud's 47 years in Wenatchee Rotary started in 1946 as an Additional Active for five years. Seven years later, in 1958 he rejoined as an Active member and has a total of 47 years as a Rotarian. Lud was the 1984-1985 President of Wenatchee Rotary and went to the International Convention in Birmingham, England in 1984.

Lud says, "Rotary has always meant a lot to me."

Back to List of Member Profiles