Ryszard (Richard) Wlodzimierz Rudnicki
Architect, military officer, Polish community leader
Born Apr. 26, 1913, Warsaw, Poland; came to U.S., 1950; son of Edward and Janina (Janowska); married Helena (Rabcewicz); children: Wanda, Jadwiga, Maria, Krystyna, Edward.
Education: Infantry Cadet School, Ostrow Mazowiecka (Poland), 1934; British Army Staff College, Sandhurst (United Kingdom), 1943; captain, Higher War Academy, Eddleston (Scotland), 1944.
Career: officer, Polish Army, 1934-39, Polish Armed Forces in France, 1939-40, in United Kingdom, 1941-43, in Scotland, 1943-47; engineer, Joseph Parks Engineers, London (United Kingdom), 1949-50; draftsman, architect, K.G. Reynold Architects, 1950-55, architect, State Projects Bureau, 1955-83, Albany (NY); sworn translator, U.S. Department of Justice, 1955-83; vice director, Polish - American Immigration Bureau, Munich (Germany), 1983-86; Retired.
Author: co-editor, illustrator, Jednodniowki polowe Polskich Sil Zbrojnych, 1944-45; reporter, correspondent, Nowy Swiat, 1955-60, OGS Searchlight, 1960-70; projects, Gen. Pulaski Monument, Schenectady (NY), 1952, Ignacy Paderewski Commemorating Plate, N. Copernicus Monument base, Utica (NY).
Member of, i.a.: associate civil engineer, Institution of Polish Engineers in Great Britain; Civil Service Employees Association, Albany (NY); New York State Retirees Public Employees Federation; U.S. Army Retired Officers Association, Albany; district officer, American Legion, since 1966; president, Polish American Congress (P.A.C.), Northern New York Division; council president, Polish National Alliance (P.N.A.), Schenectady; Polish Army Veterans Association - Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (S.W.A.P.) (national commander, since 1976, honorary commandant, district No 5); national secretary, leader, Polish Scouting in America - Zwiazek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Z.H.P.); chief of staff, 1992-94, commandant, 1994 -, Pulaski Cadets; secretary, Polish Emergency Relief Fund, Albany 1981-83; organizer, vice president, Free Polish Congress in Europe; national president, Polish Refugee Society in West Germany; refugees advisor, Polish Cultural Foundation, Clark (NJ); vice president, Jersey Shore Polish American Association; secretary, Semper Fidelis; Pilsudski Institute of America; Polish University Club of New Jersey; Knights of Columbus; Color Corps.
Honors, i.a.: Croix de Combatants Volontaires (France), 1946; 50th Anniversary of Military Deeds Cross, 1967, Haller's Swords, 1975, Polish Army Veterans Association - Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (S.W.A.P.); Silver Cross of Merit, 1974, and September '39 Campaign Cross, 1985, Polish Government in Exile, London; Certificate of Commendation, Association of the U.S. Army, 1981; Silver Cross - Legion of Honor, Polish Falcons (United Kingdom), 1985; Cross of Military Deed in World War II, L. Walesa, President of Poland, 1991; 1st Polish Armored Division Cross, 1993; 19 other Polish, American, British and French medals; Certificates of Appreciation, Retired Officers Association, 1982, Commissioner of New York State, 1983; honorary member, 11th Armored Division, Zagan (Poland), 1992.
Served with: Polish Army, September '39 Campaign, Polish Armed Forces in the West, Armor, major, 1931-91; New York Guard Staff, colonel, 1965-82; Old Guard of the City of New York, captain, 1976 -; Pulaski Cadets, colonel.
Affiliation: Roman Catholic.
Languages: Polish, English, French, Russian.
Hobbies: art painting.
Home: 107 Harvard Avenue, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996.