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OUT OF THE SHADOW

By JIM MORGAN

"I was four," he recalls with a grin. "My dad and I were at a pool that had a really tall slide. Older kids were going down it, but I was terrified. I had been bugging my dad for a Big Wheel, which was like a stylized tricycle. He said, 'I guarantee that, if you go down that slide, there will be a Big Wheel in our garage when we get home.' Well, I was still afraid, but I did it anyway! Of course, he had already bought the toy, but he made me earn it. The lessons were: you have to work for what you want, and you have to take risks."

As a territory manager here at RL Hudson, 31-year-old Jason is still scaling obstacles and taking risks. But, ironically enough, his greatest challenge, one with which he still struggles, has been to step outside the shadow of his very successful father.

DEFINING MOMENTS "My dad, Rick Hudson, founded RL Hudson when I was six," says Jason. "I first came to work here when I was thirteen. I worked half-days in the warehouse during the summer. I was counting gaskets, and I absolutely hated it! I have a little hyperactivity in me, so to sit and do repetitive stuff was a struggle."

Difficulties notwithstanding, Jason worked in the warehouse each summer through high school. During his first two years of college, he worked part-time in our quality lab. And during a two-year college hiatus, he came on full-time as an account manager.

"At a young age, I didn't have many goals," he concedes. "I didn't really take my first two years of college seriously. But working here full-time helped develop my practical business skills more than the classroom did. It also helped me define my goals and focus on my priorities."

Those priorities included completing college. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in International Business in 1999. At that point, it might have seemed like a given that Jason would permanently join his father's increasingly international company. But such was not the case.

PROS AND CONS "I never thought about working here past graduation," Jason says. "My dad was pretty hard on me when I was here, so I didn't really think I could work for him long-term. During my last semester, I interned at a commercial real estate company. After graduation, I joined them full-time. That furthered my sales experience, and it gave me the freedom to work on a variety of projects, so I wasn't stuck at a desk all day."

Two years passed, and Jason's confidence in the sales arena grew. He found a mentor in the real estate industry, and he truly thought that he had found his calling. Then one day he got an e-mail from Hudson President Roger Stair.

"I had helped with the acquisition of the property for the current RL Hudson headquarters," recounts Jason. "Both Roger and Rick saw my capabilities. Roger asked if I'd consider joining the Hudson sales team as a territory manager. I was flattered, but my response was, 'Let me think about it.'"

And so he did, ultimately concluding that the pros (security and long-term potential for growth at Hudson) outweighed the cons (the likelihood of butting heads with Rick and of being dubbed "the boss' son"). In April 2002, Jason again joined the company founded by his father twenty-two years earlier.

BULL'S-EYE "I made one stipulation when I came back," says Jason. "I wanted to be treated equally with everyone else. I didn't want any favors, and I wanted the freedom to develop my own style."

Jason's insistence on parity was part one of his plan to lessen "the boss' son" stigma. Part two was independent hard work. "I said, 'Throw me in the middle of the lake and see if I can swim back to shore. If I fail, I'll have tried my hardest. If I succeed, that's to the betterment of the company. But let me think for myself.'"

Three years in, he feels this approach is working, though he still ponders how his peers perceive him. "I shouldn't worry about it," he says with a shrug, "but I do, every single day. I care what people in this company think about me, because there's a chance that I could be leading them one day, and I want them to respect me for what I've accomplished rather than for my last name. I just have to work hard, and respect the wisdom of those who are more seasoned than me."

Jason pauses. It's obvious how much the credibility issue haunts him. "There's always going to be a bull's-eye on my forehead," he observes. "It was a big bull's-eye at first. Over time, as I accomplish things, it will continue to get smaller. It'll never go away entirely, but I can handle that. I love exceeding expectations."

FUTURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Truth be told, much of the interest in Jason has less to do with today's successes or failures and more to do with the long-term future of the company. As Rick's only two children, Jason and his younger brother Blake will inherit RL Hudson someday. With Blake pursuing a different career path, the presumption is that leadership will someday fall squarely on Jason's shoulders. The elder son knows that prospect causes concern in certain quarters.

"People have fears," Jason acknowledges. "They think, 'What is he going to do, sell the company? Take the money and run?' I can stress that that's not going to happen, but they'll still have doubts. Here's how I see it: My dad has guided this company to where it is. When he leaves, that will be his accomplishment, not mine. If I just sold the company, I'd be getting something for nothing, and that's not how I was raised."

A determined gleam shines forth from Jason's eyes. "It's like climbing that tall slide," he emphasizes. "The rush of accomplishment is so much more rewarding than any amount of money! As proud as I am of everything my dad has achieved, I want to make my own mark on this company. As grateful as I am for the opportunities I've been given, I want to create my own legacy. And my dad wants that, too. Our methods may be different, but we share the same vision for RL Hudson. Could I run the company now? Not likely. Will I be able to in ten years? I'd like to think so. I still have a lot to learn, but I know one thing: I want RL Hudson to continue to be a major force in the rubber and sealing industries for a long, long time."