http://www.adn.com/2010/03/08/v-printer ... -dies.html

Tough few months for the Hudson family.

Condolences all around.

-Denalipilot

I enjoyed listening to him in the "Hard Core" videos a few years back... Neat guy.... Sorry to hear the news...

Well now Cliff and Jay can do a little flying together, It has been a few years.
Now them both just a little and admired both of them immensely!
They touched Aviation, Alaska and Talkeetna and many people in there lives.
Good on ya both to be where you can smile all the time.
GT
Clifford Hudson

Pioneer Alaska bush pilot Clifford Lowell Hudson, 84, passed away March 5, 2010 at the Palmer Pioneers Home after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Church on the Rock in Talkeetna. Burial will take place alongside his son at the Talkeetna Cemetery immediately after the church service. A potluck will at Latitude 62 Lodge, Talkeetna Spur Road, Talkeetna, 99676, will follow the graveside service.

Cliff was born Oct. 27, 1925, to Charles and Mina Hudson in Malott, Wash. He graduated from school in 1944 and joined the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged in 1946. He arrived in Alaska in 1948 to join his brother Glenn and family, who owned the Hudson Air Service business in Talkeetna. Cliff took over the business after his brother lost his life to an airplane accident. His love of Alaska and his love of flying, his skills, safety and integrity took him through many years of happy and appreciative times working with all who met him. In his flying experiences, he was involved in many, many rescues. A short DVD has been made of some of Cliff's life stories.

In 1996, Cliff was honored with the U.S. Air Force's highest civilian award, the Exceptional Service Award, the equivalent of the military's Distinguished Service Medal for his heroic actions that helped save the lives of six airmen in February 1954.

He is survived by his wife, Ollie; sons, Bruce, Chuck and Scott; two grandsons, Dustin and Clifford; nieces and nephews, and many relations and good friends.

The family would like to thank all the caretakers at the Palmer Pioneers Home for their wonderful care while he lived there.

Cliff Hudson flew out of Talkeetna day in and day out, without making any noise about it, without any hoopla, and without media coverage. Yet, on a day to day basis, he did some absolutely amazing things with those airplanes. He did in fact conduct a large number of rescues, yet rarely if ever was recognized for his efforts.

Cliff was one of the true heroes of a generation of Alaska pilots. His son Jay was a keeper as well, and also a great pilot. It's truly unfortunate that Cliff's life wasn't better documented--there were some amazing stories there, but Cliff never sought the lime light. He was very self effacing.

We'll miss both Cliff and Jay.

Tailwinds,

MTV

Bummer to hear. I'm not sure if I ever met him, but I surely knew of him from the years operating the skydive center out of Wasilla. On the crappy days we'd fly up to Talkeetna for a hot dog and to tool around, it's hard not to hear of a guy like him when you fly around the Mat-Su area.

i got to meet mr hudson 1 time in the early 70s. we were flying a search for 5 japanese girls who were missing on the mountain. we landed the huey at around 10,000 ft to talk to some girls in a tent. they were good looking. mr hudson was also there. he ask us to lift up the wing of his c180 because the ski was broken. he twisted it around like he wanted it for take off and started to get in the plane. i ask him what he was going to do because it was obvious that the ski would not stay in position once he took off. he looked back and said oh i'll worry about that when i get to tka.
his son flew us in when we went to climb mckinley back in 82.