Bud was born in the Town of Bayview, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, but at age 3 he moved to the City of Bayfield where he graduated from Bayfield High School in 1942. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before enlisting in the U. S. Navy in December 1942. He was in the Navy for 6 years, serving as a motor machinist mechanic and Packard diesel mechanic on PT boats. After discharge he returned to Bayfield and joined his father in commercial fishing. Together they operated their tug, the “William G.” from their headquarters on Madeline Island near Big Bay.1230