Head and shoulders image of Edward P. Hudek, professor, Agricultural Engineering, [1940]-1956.

Bio/Historical Note: Edward Philip Hudek was born on 5 December 1916 and raised on a farm at Hafford, Saskatchewan. He received his BSc in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in 1940. After graduation Hudek taught short courses for the Extension Department of the University of British Columbia and conducted lectures and laboratories in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. From 1942-1945 Hudek assumed the operation and management of the family farm, a sub Research Station of the Federal Department of Agriculture. In 1945 while still farming, he began teaching in the Agricultural Engineering Department at the U of S. In 1956 Hudek accepted a job in Winnipeg as an extension agricultural engineer with the Manitoba Department of Agriculture in Winnipeg, where he stayed until his retirement in 1981. An effective administrator, he moved up to become chief agricultural engineer, irector of the Technical Services Branch, Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister and Special Advisor to the Minister. He served as chairman of the Farm Machinery Board, chairman and manager of the Manitoba Water Services Board, chairman of the Milk Control Board, and chairman of the Crown Lands Appeal Board. Hudek became known as an expert in vegetable storage structures, loose housing for livestock, hay handling equipment, seed cleaning plants, hog barn design, farm safety, farm drainage and rural water systems. He was involved in rewriting the Farm Machinery Act to ensure that it was easily understood and fair to all. From 1984-1986 Hudek lived in Sudan, Africa, where he managed a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) research and development project producing sorghum and sesame seed. In 1988 a CIDA contract took Hudek to Tanzania to assess a wheat production project. The U of S Alumni presented Hudek with the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Ed Hudek died on 25 July 2018 in Winnipeg at age 101.