Hud Banks of Paso Robles, passed away Jan. 4 ^th , 2018 from complications of pneumonia.  Born and raised in Paso Robles, Hud was the youngest son of Marie Weir Banks and Fred Banks. He was born on April 21 ^st , 1926 at Weidman's Maternity Home on Park St.; delivered by Dr. Gif Sobey.

Hud attended local schools and graduated from Paso Robles Union High School with the class of 1944. As a football player, he was proud of the fact that along with his shop class he helped to build the football stadium on the old campus.

He decided early on he wanted to be a firefighter. He started as a seasonal firefighter with the CDF in 1941 at the age of 15. Becoming a Marine in 1944, he served our country during WWII in the Pacific Islands as a firefighter on an air base.  After his discharge from the Marines, he returned to CDF and worked in the San Luis Obispo Ranger Unit until he retired in 1981 as a State Forest Ranger 1 in the Paso Battalion.

Starting his CDF career at such an early age, he shared that he had worked at almost every station in SLO County and a few in Monterey County. He enjoyed sharing stories about how different things were back then and how far things have come. Vivid memories of the men who taught him and of those he taught and forged life-long friendships with, were never far from his mind.

Hud was an avid outdoorsman and hunter, a passion he shared with his wife Muffy Munoz Banks. The couple met while Hud was stationed at the Nipomo CDF Station and a lifelong love began. They married in 1948 and had two daughters Karen Williams (husband Scott and son Matthew) of Montana and Kathy Banks of Paso Robles.

He had many highlights in his personal and professional life, but one recent one stands out. In August of 2015 he received a medal for gallantry from Cal Fire and the SLO County Supervisors for saving the life of a toddler in his early days with CDF. Cal-Fire Chief Robert Lewin commented, "Chief Banks was a legendary firefighter for CDF. This will be a chance to honor him."

In 1941, 15 year old Hud and another firefighter rescued a toddler that was drowning in the old Paso Plunge on Spring Street. Jumping the locked fence he was able to pull her from the pool. Life went on, but the question of whatever happened to the little girl was always in the back of his mind. It took nearly 75 years but a phone call in 2013 from Cathy Hemmeter Reed, asking for "Elwood", solved the mystery and resulted in a treasured friendship.

Always good with his hands, he was a master craftsman, building their first home in Nipomo in the 1950's. After his retirement he began a home repair business that kept him quite busy.

In the 1960's Hud was quite instrumental in the development of the Paso Robles Air Attack Base. Even after retiring he and Muffy would go out and help load the bombers during fire season. Something they both enjoyed.

When the couple wasn't working they loved to travel. Many trips were taken throughout the western states, Calif, Arizona and Montana with their 5 ^th wheel in tow. Many of these trips revolved around camp outs with the CDF Wagon Train and also Happy Trails RV Group.

A busy life didn't stop Hud from being involved in various organizations in Paso and his native SLO County; including, Paso Robles Elks, CDF 25 yr club and CDF Wagon train, Happy Trails RV Club, Paso Robles Pioneer Day volunteer, Main St volunteer, Pioneer Museum docent and a member of the Italian Catholic Federation (despite not being Italian).

Many more stories could be told, but we think it's fair to say he had a life well lived, a woman well-loved and the respect of his peers...what more can you ask for.

The family would like to thank Hud's care facility; especially his special friend Candy Peacok. Always ready for adventure, good friend Gina Cashmore took him wherever he wanted to go...usually a Wild ride.

In honor of his memory donations may be made to Paso Pioneer Day Committee, PO Box 262, Paso Robles, CA 93447 or CDF Museum, 3800 Sierra Way, San Bernadino, CA 92405.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD:

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the Quail Run Club House, 1400 Quail Run Ave., Paso Robles, CA 93446.