Illinois horseman Paul Dudzik dies

Paul Arthur Dudzik, 62, of Sandwich, Ill., died Friday, Feb. 26, at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Ill.

 

Dudzik trained horses for over 40 years, and at the time of his death at the Sandwich fairgrounds, along with his son Jerry. He mainly raced at the Chicago tracks and traveled the Northern Illinois Colt Association fair circuit each summer.

 

Besides training, Dudzikl drove on rare occasions. Highlights include driving the 3-year-old trotting filly Pretty Snippy to a 2:01.4 victory at Quad City Downs in 1990, setting an Illinois season's mark. More recently he drove the 2-year-old pacing colt Wayne Macklane to a 2:01 score at Decatur, Ill., in 2007. This was an Illinois season's mark as well. He currently trained two horses, RASCC and Colonel Vernol. A sentimental favorite of Paul's, RASCC won at Maywood Park the day after he was laid to rest.

 

Dudzik was born Feb. 12,1948, in Sandwich, the son of David and Martha (Dunbar) Dudzik. He married Mary K. Black on June 17, 1972, in Medina,Ohio. He was a member of Union Congregational Church in Somonauk. He was a Vietnam veteran, having served with the U.S. Army. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, his family and friends.

 

He is survived by his wife Mary; one son, Jerry (Jill) Dudzik of Sandwich,Il.;one daughter, Christy, of Joliet, Ill.; one granddaughter, Peyton Dudzik; and one brother, David (Diane) Dudzik of Sierra Vista, AZ.

 

Funeral services were held March 3 at the Union Congragational Church in Somonauk with burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Sandwich.