Brian David Rude was born on August 25,1955 and is a retired American businessman, lobbyist, and Republican politician from Vernon County, Wisconsin.
19 Facts About Brian Rude
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Brian Rude served a year in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
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Brian Rude was born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, on August 25,1955.
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Brian Rude was raised in Westby, Wisconsin, and graduated from Westby High School in 1973.
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Brian Rude went on to earn his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Luther College, in Iowa, in 1977.
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Brian Rude ultimately remained at Trane until resigning to become a full-time legislator in 1985.
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Brian Rude was active in the local Junior Chamber of Commerce.
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Brian Rude first ran for public office in 1982, following the drastic 1982 court-ordered redistricting of the Wisconsin Legislature.
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In January 1984, Rude entered the special election contest to replace him in the Wisconsin Senate.
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Brian Rude continued in that role until April 1993, when Republicans gained the majority and Rude was elected president of the Senate.
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Brian Rude continued as president until Republicans lost the majority due to a 1996 recall election, but regained the office briefly in 1998 after another special election.
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Brian Rude was considered a moderate Republican in the Senate and often played an important dealmaker role in the closely-divided state capital.
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Brian Rude announced his retirement from the Legislature in 2000, leaving office in May, with seven months left in his term.
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Brian Rude lobbied on behalf of the cooperative for the next 20 years, retiring in 2020.
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Brian Rude married Karen Ann Thulin, a registered nurse from Platteville, on October 24,1981.
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Brian Rude has been active in many state and local community organizations in addition to his political activity.
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Brian Rude has served as Chair of the Greater La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Board of Aptiv, and President of the Norwegian-American Historical Association.
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Brian Rude was active for many years on the Wisconsin Historical Society's governing board of curators, and in 2016 was elected president of the board.
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Brian Rude is currently chair of the Board of Trustees of Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa.