The Wake Weekly, Wake Forest, NC Thursday, August 31, 2000
Luddy's Initiative Has Built Area Businesses and School By Cynthia Dean Entrepreneur and businessman Bob Luddy has left his mark in Franklin County and community leaders in the area are thankful he chose to come their way. Ronnie Goswick, economic development manager for Franklin County, said Luddy purchased land off U.S. 1 in Youngsville to build the Franklin Park Industrial Center in 1988.  The first buildings opened the following year. "It's really one of the best industrial parks in the state," Goswick said. "He did and excellent job."
The park is almost complete, with 18 businesses operating  and only one lot left open.  Goswick said the park provides a tremendous amount of tax base and creates more jobs in the county. "We owe him a lot for that," he said. When Luddy was looking for land to expand his business in the Wake Forest-Youngsville area, he was told to contact the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. He met with them and later  joined the Franklin County Economic Commission. "One of the members suggested that I start an industrial park, but my original plan was to have more land for Captive-Aire," Luddy said. "The industrial park was more than I anticipated."Goswick said when the county began looking for ways to attract industry to the area, Luddy knew this would be a board that he could work with. "He wanted to help us build partnerships with private owners to develop a tax base and more jobs for people in the community." he said. "Luddy just saw it as an opportunity. He's just a good businessman." Originally from Pennsylvania, Luddy moved to Raleigh in 1974. He said that after serving at the Fort Bragg, he decided to make North Carolina his permanent home. "I thought it would be a good place to raise a family," he said. He also said the amenities of the beach and the mountains, good universities and wonderful people also attracted him to the state. "There's also a good economic base and infrastructure for growth,"he said. "It was one of the most progressive areas of the southern states at the time." He started a business out of his garage in 1976 called Captive-Aire, working in the fire protection industry, manufacturing kitchen hoods. Today, the company produces kitchen ventilation systems for restaurants and national chains involved in commercial cooking. He attributes his success to determination and being able to visualize what can be. He also said that he works well with others to achieve goals. "I work hard at creative and innovative solutions," he said.	Luddy said education is another key to success.  Luddy graduated form LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Penn., with a bachelors degree in cooperative finance. "Individuals who don't receive a good, basic education are denied a chance at success in America," he said. "A small number of people do succeed, but the general rule is that people don't make it." He said public education is not providing a solid education for its students, and that is why he started a charter school in Wake Forest, Franklin Academy in 1998. Luddy is also involved in the community. He donated land for the Youngsville Recreational Park in the name of his parents. He also owns a construction company and built a new building for St. Catherine Catholic Church in Wake Forest, where he is a member. "I saw there was a need, so I had it built," he said. Luddy is divorced and lives in Wake Forest with his 24-year-old daughter and and 21-year-old son. Both children attend Barton College in Wilson.  Bob Heuts, former economic development manager, worked side-by-side Luddy about eight years, bringing industry to Franklin County.  "Until Bob came on the scene, we didn't have real incentives to offer businesses to come here," he said. Heuts said Luddy took a chance on building the industrial park, setting the stage for growth. "And it has really worked out well, " he added.  He said Luddy is always willing to take chances. Luddy also assists business owners establish themselves in Franklin County at the park, even financially in some cases. " He understands that businesses need time to build up," Huets said. Heuts said Luddy has real high standards for everybody he works with. "He's always asking what can we do better," he said. "... and what are you doing today you can do better tomorrow?"  He said Luddy was instrumental in putting Franklin County on the map for development.  "He's a man with vision," Heuts said. "He's the kind of guy you want in a community to help move it along."