---
id: 20261006_003000_randy-bud-orr-real-success-video-tape
title: Bud Orr on Finding Real Success in Life and Business (Interview with Dean Rush)
category: Videos
content_kind: video
source_kind: youtube
youtube_id: qf36qg0KZDw
youtube_url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf36qg0KZDw
youtube_title: Zoom Bud Orr 6 24 20
youtube_channel: '@deanrush465'
youtube_channel_name: Dean Rush
youtube_channel_url: https://www.youtube.com/@deanrush465
youtube_description: An interview with Bud Orr, former chairman of Orr Safety Equipment Corporation, about finding
  real success in life and in the company.
youtube_description_note: Condensed from Daniel Comp's brief; the exact YouTube description text is not on file.
source_url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf36qg0KZDw
source_date: '2020-06-27'
watch_stem: bud-orr-interview-orr-safety-equipment-finding-real-success-in-life-and-business-dean-rush-depauw-roommate
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summary: 'Dean Rush interviews his DePauw roommate Bud Orr, chairman emeritus of Orr Safety Equipment Corporation,
  about real success. Bud tells of a family company that came first, an early-1990s crisis of overextension, payroll
  scares, and fear of flying, and the 1994 Mother''s Day church visit with his wife Kathy after which prayer at
  business meals ''took root.'' Dean''s verdict: Bud''s ''bottom line became the Lord.'''
keypoints:
- Bud's father founded the business in the late 1940s; about 550 employees today; the third generation now leads.
- Bud chose the family business as a sophomore rooming with Dean at DePauw; now "chairman emeritus" ("English for
  we're worn out").
- 'His old order: company first, family "a distant second," faith "way down the list."'
- 'Early 1990s: 20 direct reports, 75% travel, first bank debt, "several weeks there when we had trouble making
  payroll."'
- 'Mother''s Day 1994: Kathy asked him to take her to church; prayer at business meals "took root."'
- 'Dean: Bud''s "bottom line became the Lord"; faith "provides leadership and counsel to other people."'
tags:
- video
- youtube
- faith-breakthroughs
- bud-orr
- orr-safety
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- family-business
- priorities
- real-success
- interview
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predicted_narrative_arc: company-first-to-faith-taking-root
sentiment: Candid and hopeful
emotions:
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question: Where can I watch Dean Rush interview Bud Orr about real success in business and faith?
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transcript_kind: condensed_notes_from_owner_brief
transcript_note: Verbatim captions not on file (YouTube blocked caption fetch from the box on 2026-10-05). Notes
  condensed from Daniel Comp's transcript brief; no timestamps in the brief.
description: 'Dean Rush interviews his DePauw roommate Bud Orr, chairman emeritus of Orr Safety Equipment Corporation,
  about real success. Bud tells of a family company that came first, an early-1990s crisis of overextension, payroll
  scares, and fear of flying, and the 1994 Mother''s Day church visit with his wife Kathy after which prayer at
  business meals ''took root.'' Dean''s verdict: Bud''s ''bottom line became the Lord.'''
pipeline_filename: VIDEO_bud-orr-interview-orr-safety-equipment-finding-real-success-in-life-and-business-dean-rush-depauw-roommate.md
share_url: https://faithbreakthroughs.org/v/bud-orr-interview-orr-safety-equipment-finding-real-success-in-life-and-business-dean-rush-depauw-roommate.html
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created: '2026-10-06T00:30:00Z'
updated: '2026-10-06T00:30:00Z'
date: '2026-10-05'
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asker_site: faithbreakthroughs.org
owner: dean
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requested_by: Daniel Comp (co-founder and steward)
author: Randy · FBT
---

# Bud Orr on Finding Real Success in Life and Business (Interview with Dean Rush)

Dean Rush interviews his DePauw college roommate Bud Orr, chairman emeritus of Orr Safety Equipment Corporation, about what real success looks like in life and in a company. (Premiered on YouTube June 27, 2020.)

## Key lessons

- Bud's father founded the family business in the late 1940s: safety equipment, fire protection systems, some environmental software, about 550 employees.
- Bud began exit planning in his 40th year. The third generation now leads, and passing the baton was emotional and difficult.
- For years his order was company first, family "a distant second," faith "way down the list." Dean says he was similar.
- The early 1990s brought overextension, first-ever bank debt, "several weeks there when we had trouble making payroll," self-doubt, and a fear of flying.
- Mother's Day 1994: his wife Kathy asked him to take her to church. He began praying at business meals, and "it took root."
- Dean: Bud's "bottom line became the Lord." Faith "doesn't inhibit you at all" and "provides leadership and counsel to other people."

## Transcript

_A verbatim transcript is not on file in the barn yet. These are condensed transcript notes from the source material Daniel Comp provided, in the video's order. Lines in quotation marks are quoted as they appear in the transcript; everything else is a close summary. Randy wrote these notes from the transcript and summary and did not watch the video._

Dean Rush interviews Bud Orr, his college roommate at DePauw. Bud's family business was founded in the late 1940s by his father: safety equipment, fire protection systems, some environmental software, about 550 employees. Bud decided as a sophomore, while rooming with Dean, to join it. He went to grad school and served in the military before joining full time.

Bud has 50 to 60-plus years with the company and is now "chairman emeritus" ("English for we're worn out"). He began exit planning in his 40th year, and the third generation now leads. Passing the baton was emotional and difficult. Dean admired Bud's father; Dean's own father died when Dean was young.

Tough times: a sudden shock in the early 1970s (not specified in the transcript), then a period of growth where "to fix anything we just sell more," until the bottom line started to matter. Bud's priorities were the company first, his family "a distant second," and his faith "way down the list." Dean shares that he was similar, "running through hurdles rather than jumping them," with family playing second fiddle.

In the early 1990s there was no organizational structure. Bud had 20 direct reports, decisions bottlenecked at his desk, and he traveled 75% of the time. Business turned down. A venture funded from daily operations lost money. The company took on bank debt for the first time and was overextended, and there were "several weeks there when we had trouble making payroll." Bud doubted his capabilities. He had a tremendous fear of flying while flying two or three times a week, and often needed a cocktail to board. Faith played no part then.

In 1994 his wife Kathy asked him to take her to church on Mother's Day, at a new church she had been attending. Gradually he began saying a prayer at business meals; "it took root." He realized how many of his customers had strong faith, and he credits Dean's influence.

Dean closes: Bud's "bottom line became the Lord." Faith "doesn't inhibit you at all," and it "provides leadership and counsel to other people." There's also a joke about Kentucky.

_Randy wrote this page from the video's transcript and summary and did not watch the video. A team of very capable agents helps run the shop here._

[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf36qg0KZDw)

Randy · FBT