Hamer H. "Judge" Budge

The Honorable Hamer "Judge" H. Budge, 92, died July 22, 2003 - in Scottsdale, Arizona. Budge was born November 21, 1910 in Pocatello, Idaho. He attended the College of Idaho for two years and then graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in 1933. He received his law degree from the University of Idaho in 1936, and was subsequently admitted to the Idaho Bar Association. He had his own law practice in Idaho from 1936-42, and was elected to the Idaho State Legislature 1939. During his service in World War II from 1942-45, he attained the rank of Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy, and upon his return to civilian life, Budge resumed his law practice and was re-elected to the State Legislature. In 1950, Budge was elected to Congress and was a U.S. Representative from Idaho until 1960, during which time he served as a member of the Rules Committee, Appropriations Committee, and Interior Committee, and also as Assistant Republican Whip. While in Congress, he served with future Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford, and Budge was also well acquainted with Presidents Eisenhower, Hoover, and Truman. As a former District Judge in Idaho from 1961-64, Budge was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Idaho and the Supreme Court of the United States. From 1964-71, he was a member of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and enjoyed the unique distinction of being appointed SEC Chairman by two different presidents. From 1971 until his retirement in 1986, Budge served as Chairman of the Board and President of the Investor's Group of mutual funds, a multi-billion dollar fund complex based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and his wife, Jeanne lived in Palm Desert, California from 1979 until moving to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1997. Budge is preceded in death by his parents -- Alfred Budge (Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court for 37 years) and Ella Hoge Budge; and his siblings Dr. Alfred Budge, Drew William Budge, Walter L. Budge (Attorney General of the State of Utah), Ora. A. Budge Cleary, Dr. Bruce C. Budge, Ina Elizabeth Budge Courson, and Belva Budge Baker. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Keithly Budge of Scottsdale, Arizona whom he married in 1941; and their daughter Kathleen Budge of Atascadero, California. Budge will be buried at Cloverdale Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. At his request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Westminster Village Scholarship Fund in Scottsdale, Arizona.