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Hudson’s liberty

by Mike Kiernan
During his daily walk to the Post Office, Russell Hudson (left) chats with his neighbor Avalee Wesley. Hudson says he walks a lot because it keeps him going. Another reason is because he has never owned a drivers license. He says, “I don’t own a car because I can’t see to drive.” He memorized an eye chart to get in the army in 1922 at the age of 17.

Every morning Russell Hudson raises the American flag outside the courthouse in Liberty. He volunteered for the job years ago because the “law” would only do it once a month. “Some of the policemen around here are only worth 15 cents with 5 cents rubbed out,” Hudson said.

Hudson is an 83-year-old retired, disabled American veteran. He was discharged from the Army in 1930 because of intestinal trouble. He has strong feelings toward the flag and country and believes they are things worth defending.

“I’d rather be dead than to live under a dictator,” he said. “You won’t see me going to Canada.”

Hudson and Eunice, his wife of 55 years, moved to Liberty in 1969 after his retirement as Windsor’s postmaster They wanted to be closer to stores, the hospital and doctors. Eunice died in August 1987.

He says living by himself is lonely, but it hasn’t stopped him from leading an active life. Just about any time of day he can be seen walking around Liberty visiting friends or neighbors. He says if he just sits around the house and does nothing, he’ll die within three months.

Another reason he walks so much is because he has never had a driver’s license.

“I don’t own a car because I can’t see to drive,” he explains. He memorized an eye chart to get into the Army in 1922 at the age of 17.

Every night Hudson can be found at home reading the Bible. He describes himself as a simple man, a patriotic American who has a strong sense of God and country. Freedom and Liberty means everything to him.

As he does every day at day break after raising the flag at the courthouse, Russell Hudson heads for Sandy’s Grill to meet friends and talk the day’s business. Afterwards he will go to the courthouse to visit with some more folks.
After his daily routine of raising the flag at the courthouse and stopping at Sandy’s grill, Hudson can be found at the courthouse visiting neighbors and friends. Here he stops and chats with jurors who were in the hallway during a recess. From left, Nathaniel Buis, Hershel Wesley, Russell Hudson and Argle Meeks.
A patch on Russell Hudson’s jacket. “Live Free or Die,” New Hampshires state motto. Hudson. a patriotic American who has a strong sense for God and country said, “I’s rather be dead than to live under a dictator.” Freedom and liberty mean everything to this 83-year-old disabled American veteran.
Russell Hudson in his kitchen filling out V.A. forms for other disabled veterans and their defendants. Hudson is a disabled American veteran who was discharged from the Army in 1930 because of colitis (intestinal trouble). He enlisted in 1922 at the age of 17 and purchased his discharge 7 yrs, 9 months and nine days later. He says he now averages about 5 hours a week (he use to do more) filling out forms and collecting information for other veterans. He believes there are about 1,000 vets drawing pensions in this country. One of the reasons why he volunteers his time is because, “Somebody has to do it, other wise it won’t get done.” That’s the way Hudson is, something needs to be done, so he does it.
Every morning at day break and every afternoon around 3:30, Russell Hudson can be seen raising or lowering the flag at the courthouse. Here , he is is in the Sheriff’s Office folding the flag he would defend again if he had to. He feels the flag is something to fight for. “You won’t see me going to Canada,: he said, “i’d go to war before I’d go to Canada.”
Russell Hudson at Sandy’s Grill where Hudson stopped for a bite to eat, and also meet with friends.
Even though Russell Hudson makes his own breakfast, he always stops at Sandy’s Grill every morning to chat with friends. Also, he can usually be seen there int he afternoon.
Two-year-old Andrew Poy peeks out from the Sheriff’s Office to find Ray Brown in the hallway of the courthouse. Boy came up form Georgia with his family to attend a funeral (his father is originally from Liberty) while Brown was at the courthouse visiting friends.
This may look like an attempted jail break, but its not. Two-year-old Andrew Boy is peeking out of the Sheriff’s Office to see what the noise is all about. It was only jurors gabbing in the hallway of the courthouse during a recess. Pos came from Georgia with his family to attend a funeral, his father is originally from Liberty.
Portrait of Julus Woodrum, 47, taking a break from his pool hall job at Sandy’s Grill where he has worked, “of and on for 30 somethin’ years.” Woodrum has lived in Liberty ark his life.
Portrait of Julus Woodrum, 47, taking a break from his pool hall job at Sandy’s Grill where he has worked, “of and on for 30 somethin’ years.” Woodrum has lived in Liberty ark his life.
Brother Bill Hall preaches the word of God to church members of the First Baptist Church of God in Yosemite, Ky. (six miles from Liberty) Hall who is from Sommerset Baptist Church was invited to this one week revival by Pastor Danny Tadell of the First Baptist Church of God.
While getting parts to fix his motorcycle seat, Jody Bryant. 8, from Liberty, checks on his four pups in their family garage.
Determined to keep his motorcycle seat from going off again, Jody Bryant, 8, Liberty, Ky. gives the bolt one extra turn. It worked. After 45 minutes of work he was able to join his brother Jamie for some dirt riding in their back yard.
Because his motorcycle seat kept getting loose, 8-year-old Jody Bryant heads to the garage for repairs. He was able to fix it and join his brother, Jamie, for some Saturday afternoon bike riding.