Reed Budge

Reed William Budge (January 7, 1921 – August 7, 1987) was an American politician and rancher from the U.S. state of Idaho. He resided in Soda Springs, Idaho.

Early life and education
Budge was born in 1921 in Logan, Utah to Dr. Thomas B. and Duella A. Budge. He was a relative of former U.S. congressman Hamer H. Budge and Idaho Supreme Court justice Alfred Budge. Budge graduated from Utah State University in 1946 and attended University of Chicago Medical School.

Career
He served in Europe during World War II as a medic in the United States Army with General George Patton's 2nd Armored Division and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. During his military service, Budge was awarded a Purple Heart and three Bronze Star Medals for "acts of valor in combat". On January 5, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, Budge distinguished himself by "gallantry in action" near the town of Beffe. Belgium and was awarded the Silver Star. After the war, Budge was a cattle rancher in Soda Springs, Idaho.

In 1963, Budge was elected county commissioner of Caribou County, Idaho. In 1967, he was appointed to complete a term as a Republican in the Idaho Senate. During his time in the state senate for the 32nd district, Budge served as Chairman of the Transportation committee and sat on the Health, Environment, Education and Welfare committees. He was elected as pro tempore of the Idaho Senate in 1978, serving until 1982 when he was succeeded by Jim Risch. Budge also maintained an attendance record, described by a newspaper as "one of the most remarkable", not missing a Senate session for 12 years until 1978, when a family death forced him to miss one. He retired from the senate in 1986.

Personal life
He married Gwen Steffensen in 1943 and had five children, Reed Douglas, Linda Duella, Randall Christian, Brian William, and Suzanne.

Budge died in 1987 at his home in Soda Springs of an aneurysm, aged 66.