Don Hudler '56 & Ron Hudler '56

Legendary Ohio Wesleyan Twins Share a Legacy of Generosity

Twins Don and Ron Hudler '56 are known for more than just the tale they loved to tell. According to Don's wife, Dannielle, "Their father worked with GM and gave them a Cadillac to take to school. They shared this car. However, as each drove around campus, it appeared they each had a Cadillac. Neither of them corrected this misperception. As far as everyone on campus knew, they were just two Sig Eps from Cleveland, loving their time at OWU, each driving their own Cadillac." Although Dannielle shares this memory fondly, she celebrates her late husband and brother-in-law by honoring their enduring legacy at Ohio Wesleyan by giving to the OWU Annual Fund, Team OWU, creating The Hudler Family Endowed Fund, and making an estate commitment. 

The Hudler brothers loved their time at Ohio Wesleyan. They chose OWU because they wanted to attend the same school and believed a small school rather than a large university would offer them a more personal and focused education. Also, they were from Cleveland and liked the proximity to home. They loved the easy access to laundry, home-cooked meals, and money.

They credited OWU and Sigma Phi Epsilon with providing them with a solid, well-rounded academic and social foundation that gave them the confidence to pursue their chosen careers. Both decided to follow in their father's footsteps and worked for General Motors after graduation. The brothers were known for their hard work, fairness, and generosity. They believed their OWU backgrounds were essential in the successes they both enjoyed.

Their immense gratitude for Ohio Wesleyan compelled Dannielle, Don, and Ron to give to the University the brothers loved, establish an endowed scholarship, and make a planned gift through their estate planning. Dannielle shares, "The Hudler family created scholarships and made an estate commitment to support OWU's continued excellence and provide financial assistance to future students in need. The future will bring challenges we cannot foresee. The men and women of tomorrow who will face these challenges will benefit themselves and our country with the knowledge and guidance gained from their time at OWU."

Ron passed away in 2008, and Don passed away in 2021. Before his death, Don and one of Ron's sons planted a tree on OWU's campus in Ron's memory. The tree came from Hudler Carolina Tree Farm, one of the nation's largest Christmas tree farms, which Ron founded with his sons in the 1980s. In a special ceremony, the community gathers yearly to light the Hudler Christmas Tree. The Hudler Christmas Tree now honors Don and Ron Hudler and celebrates their legacy and love for Ohio Wesleyan. 

Dannielle carries the brothers' love for OWU with her and continues to share Don and Ron's spirit of generosity and wisdom with the Ohio Wesleyan community. "If Don and Ron were with us today and asked to advise students, they would share a few simple words. 'Most of life involves solving problems. Observe. Listen. Learn. Act. Try to be the solution. Not the problem.'"