Changes

During [[World War II]], he was a captain in the [[United States Army]] Infantry Reserves. When he relocated to Shreveport in 1945, Hudson became president of the Hudson-Rush Company of Shreveport and [[Dallas]], Texas,  which specialized in industrial process equipment. He also was one of the original partners of Pelican Supply Company and McElroy Metals in Shreveport. In 1956, Hudson ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the Caddo Parish School Board.​<ref name=obit/>

During [[World War II]], he was a captain in the [[United States Army]] Infantry Reserves. When he relocated to Shreveport in 1945, Hudson became president of the Hudson-Rush Company of Shreveport and [[Dallas]], Texas,  which specialized in industrial process equipment. He also was one of the original partners of Pelican Supply Company and McElroy Metals in Shreveport. In 1956, Hudson ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the Caddo Parish School Board.​<ref name=obit/>

==First Republicans in Louisiana legislature (1964-1968)==​

==First Republicans in Louisiana legislature (1964-1968)==

Elected on the Republican ticket headed by the [[governor|gubernatorial]] [[nominee]], [[Charlton Lyons]], a Shreveport [[oil]]man, Hudson and Taylor Walters O'Hearn were the first two Republicans to have been elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives since [[Reconstruction]]. They were joined in the Caddo Parish delegation by [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] [[Algie D. Brown]], [[Frank Fulco]], and newcomer [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], later a member of both the state Senate and the  [[United States Senate]]. Veteran Democratic lawmaker Wellborn Jack, a Shreveport [[attorney]], finished in sixth place for the five seats at stake.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=June 1, 2020}}</ref>  

Elected on the Republican ticket headed by the [[governor|gubernatorial]] [[nominee]], [[Charlton Lyons]], a Shreveport [[oil]]man, Hudson and Taylor Walters O'Hearn were the first two Republicans to have been elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives since [[Reconstruction]]. They were joined in the Caddo Parish delegation by [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] [[Algie D. Brown]], [[Frank Fulco]], and newcomer [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], later a member of both the state Senate and the  [[United States Senate]]. Veteran Democratic lawmaker Wellborn Jack, a Shreveport [[attorney]], finished in sixth place for the five seats at stake.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=June 1, 2020}}</ref>  

In the 1966 legislative session, Hudson introduced legislation to reform the Louisiana worker's compensation act. He proposed a bill to upgrade the quality of education, a measure advocated by the [[Chamber of Commerce]] which would have required teachers to demonstrate basic​ qualifications in their field beyond the receipt of their college credentials.<ref name=htaylor/>​

In the 1966 legislative session, Hudson introduced legislation to reform the Louisiana worker's compensation act. He proposed a bill to upgrade the quality of education, a measure advocated by the [[Chamber of Commerce]] which would have required teachers to demonstrate basic​ qualifications in their field beyond the receipt of their college credentials.<ref name=htaylor/>​

​

​

Two other Republicans joined Hudson and O'Hearn later in their term: [[Roderick Miller]] of [[Lafayette]] in 1966 and [E. Clark Gaudin[[ in 1967. Miller was defeatedby Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr.,  in a bid for the state senate  on February 6, 1968. Gaudin was defeated for reelection to the House in 1968 but returned to the legislature in 1972 and like Art Sour served for another twenty years.​

Two other Republicans joined Hudson and O'Hearn later in their term: [[Roderick Miller]] of [[Lafayette]] in 1966 and [[E. Clark Gaudin]] in 1967. Miller was defeatedby Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr.,  in a bid for the state senate  on February 6, 1968. Gaudin was defeated for reelection to the House in 1968 but returned to the legislature in 1972 and like Art Sour served for another twenty years.​

​

​

In the spring of 1969, Hudson leaped to the defense of the newly-inaugurated President Nixon, whom some [[conservative]]s had begun to criticize for the continued expansion of liberal programs. In a speech in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], Hudson stressed that Congress had changed little in the 1968 elections despite Nixon's narrow defeat of the Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] of [[Minnesota]]: "Most of the Congress comes from liberal areas and from areas where a liberal press dominates."<ref>"Hudson: Nixon Doing Fine Job Despite Opposition, Lions Are Told," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' April 11, 1969, p. 1.</ref> ​

In the spring of 1969, Hudson leaped to the defense of the newly-inaugurated President Nixon, whom some [[conservative]]s had begun to criticize for the continued expansion of liberal programs. In a speech in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], Hudson stressed that Congress had changed little in the 1968 elections despite Nixon's narrow defeat of the Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] of [[Minnesota]]: "Most of the Congress comes from liberal areas and from areas where a liberal press dominates."<ref>"Hudson: Nixon Doing Fine Job Despite Opposition, Lions Are Told," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' April 11, 1969, p. 1.</ref> ​