AMBROSE F. "Bud" DUDLEY, JR., Founder and retired Executive Director of the Liberty Bowl Football Classic passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Margaret O'Neill Dudley, his parents Ambrose and Matilda Dudley, and his two sisters Claire Dudley and Mary Waltrich. He is survived by his six children, Dianne (Douglas) Trainor, Frank Dudley, Peggy (Fletch) Gardner, Jane (Chris) Sadler, Mary Dudley, Tama (Billy) Harris, 11 grandchildren, and extended family in Philadelphia. Bud was born in Philadelphia, PA on August 26, 1919. He graduated from St. Joseph's Prep School in 1939 and the University of Notre Dame in 1943. At Notre Dame, he was a member of the baseball and football squads and served as President of his sophomore class. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew 54 missions as lead navigator of a B-24 Bomber Group over European targets, including the Ploesti Oil Fields in Rumania. Captain Dudley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 5 clusters and 7 major battle stars, two presidential unit citations, and the World War II Victory Medal. Named the Director of Athletics at Villanova University in 1953, Bud pioneered a ticket sales promotion with Acme Markets, the "Grocery Bowls", which drew record crowds to John F. Kennedy Stadium to watch Villanova play five home contests. In 1959 Mr. Dudley was the first to obtain NCAA authorization to stage a major college football game in the East when he introduced the "Liberty Bowl" in his hometown of Philadelphia. The Liberty Bowl was the first Bowl game ever held indoors when it was played in Atlantic City's Convention Hall in 1964. In 1965, he moved the Liberty Bowl to its current home in Memphis. Over the past 50 years the Liberty Bowl has flourished with memorable games and stood as a shining symbol of American patriotism. Mr. Dudley devoted his life's work to the world of sports, and left his mark in every arena he entered. At Villanova, he worked with fellow collegiate athletic directors to form the "Big Five" college basketball rivalry. He was also the first to bring Canadian League Football to the United States, American Football League, and Continental Football League. In 1964, Mr. Dudley was in charge of the U. S. Hockey Team, as they made a 10 game tour through the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. In 1976, he was installed in the Philadelphia Big Five Basketball Hall of Fame and in 1988 was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Dudley's civic contributions and American patriotism have been formally recognized by many organizations including; the "George Washington Medal of Honor" from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, the "Outstanding Community Sales Award" by the Sales & Marketing Executives of Memphis, the "Outstanding Military/Civilian Award" by the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce, the "Communications & Leadership Award" by Toastmasters International, the "Civic Recognition Award" by the Memphis Rotary Club, "Communicator of the Year Award" by the Memphis Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the "Brotherhood Award" from the National Conference of Christians & Jews, the "Outstanding Contribution of Amateur Football Award" by the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, and the "Americanism Award" by the Veterans of Foreign Wars at their National Convention in Baltimore, MD. He was honored by the American Football Coaches Association for his 35 years of membership. He served as National President of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, Tennessee State Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee for fundraising, and as Chairman of the 111th Annual St. Peter's Picnic. He was on several Boards including; Christian Brothers College Trustees, the National Advisory Council for St. Jude Children's Hospital, the Board of Directors of St. Francis Hospital, and the Assisi Foundation. More important than any honors he received or Boards he served, however, was Bud's faith in God, his family, and himself. He was a faithful member of St. Louis Catholic Church since 1965, and an incalculable source of pride and strength to his family, friends, and community. Bud was a true American patriot and his strong legacy of faith, family and of course football, remain in his stead. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 19 from 5-7 p.m. with Rosary Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Canale Funeral Directors, 2700 Union Avenue Extended. Funeral Mass will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, at St. Louis Catholic Church with entombment in Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorial donations may be made to Shelby Residential & Vocational Services (providing assistance to citizens with developmental disabilities): SRVS Attn: PR & Development, 3592 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38118, (901) 869-SRVS. Canale Funeral Directors, Memphis, TN (Published in The Commercial Appeal on 6/18/2008)