The Hertzog family lived on a farm in Lee’s Summit when it was a town of only 2000 people. Their family would come to town on Saturday night and be entertained at the local “Vogue” movie theater. Tickets were 10 cents each. There were 3 drug stores downtown–Lain McAdoo Drug Store, Dee’s Drug Store, and Don Knight Drug Store. Each had a soda fountain, and ice cream sodas were 15 cents. For 25 cents the family could enjoy Lee’s Summit on Saturday night.

Bud was truly blessed to have grown up in the Lee’s Summit community. His parents were poor farmers, and he attended one-room country elementary schools. During 1st and 2nd grade, he attended Cyclone School, 3rd and 4th grade, he attended Greenwood Elementary. Fourth through 8th grade, he attended Cedar Hill School and graduated from Lee’s Summit High School in 1948.

His dad once said, “Show me a community that has good schools and good churches and that is where you should raise your kids.” Lee’s Summit has both.

The Lee’s Summit school system and the Lee’s Summit First Baptist Church had a strong influence on Bud’s life. He was born in 1931 during the Great Depression. Money was very scarce. Through hard work and perseverance, his parents were able to raise 6 kids and put them through school.

His interests have been in the animal world. After graduating from the University of Missouri of Veterinary Medicine, he returned to Lee’s Summit to practice veterinary medicine in this community at the same location for the past 67 years.

His wife, Betty, also grew up in this community, and their parents attended the same church. Betty and Bud graduated from Lee’s Summit High School together. They had 5 children and are blessed to have 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

All the Hertzog family continue to live close by and carries on the legacy of ongoing service and support to the community. Betty passed away in 2019 and shared Bud’s love for this community.

In Bud’s words, “I have seen Lee’s Summit change from a rural farming community to a town of more than 100,000 people. It is still a great community, and I would not want to be anywhere else. I love Lee’s Summit, and I am proud of our Lee’s Summit Historical Museum and the mission it has.”