Steve Hudson died last night

From PMI's Facebook page:





Sad News from PMI

It is with great sadness that PMI needs to inform you of the death of beloved PMI President and Industry Pioneer Steve Hudson. Widely known and loved throughout the industry Steve was unexpectedly taken from us last night.

No further details are available at this time.

PMI's executive team is committed to ensuring that Steve's dedication to quality, technical excellence, and integrity in business lives on in the legacy of PMI. We would like to take this moment to thank you, the extended family that Steve loved, for your thoughts, prayers, and concerns for the immediate family, the PMI family, and all who valued this wonderful man.

If you wish to send condolences to Steve's wife, Diane, and the PMI family, please email pmi@pmirope.com

Your Friends at PMI

Hank, thanks for posting this unexpected and untimely passing, as they usually are. I did not know Steve Hudson personally, but know those who do. He is certainly recognized as a founding father of caving, climbing and safety rope production and advancing it in the modern era of rope technology. His work has had great impact on the vertical tools in which we trust our lives.

There is mutual history between PMI and Blue Water rope manufacturing companies. Steve worked at Blue Water before resigning and starting Pigeon Mountain Industries, operating out of La Fayette, Georgia. They (PMI) sold their first spool of rope to the public in 1977. An interesting story from the early days is a publicity stunt by Steve, Bill Cuddington (another charter stockholder) and others, in an effort to promote their product, rigged and rappelled from the ceiling of the newly constructed Super Dome in New Orleans.

If a person’s life work and product contributions are any indication of their character, Steve Hudson was top of the line and first rate.

Nice article on Steve's past life.

http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com...cle_3fdb297c-7d2d-11e3-b68b-001a4bcf6878.html

Kuenn, "top of the line" is a great description for Steve (but he also went to the bottom

I sure miss him

Wow. So sad to hear. Always harder when it comes unexpectedly. Condolences to friends & family.