Bud Welch Biography
Bud Welch has become an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, after coming to terms with his daughter Julie's death in the Oklahoma City bombing.
He has testified before the U.S. Congress, many State Senate and House Judiciary Committees, made numerous radio and TV appearances, and met frequently with the father of Timothy McVeigh.
He is a member of Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation and serves on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation.
Awards
In 1997 Mr. Welch was awarded the "Champion of Justice Award" by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
He was given the "Abolitionist of the Year Award" in 1998 by the Okalahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, the "Felton Humanitarian Award" from the Death Penalty Focus of California, the "Spirit of Compassion Award" of the Prison Action Committee in Buffalo, New York and the ACLU Oklahoma Foundation "Anti-Death Penalty/Prison Project Award."
In 1999 Mr. Welch received the "Abolitionist of the Year Award" from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
He has addressed the British Parliament and the European Parliament as part of the Amnesty International Journey of Hope in Paris, London and Brussels. Most recently Mr. Welch received the "Equal Justice Award" from the Southern Center for Human Rights and testified in front of the Duma in Moscow with Sr. Helen Prejean.
Mr. Welch is being presented with the 2002 "Abolitionist of the Year" award by Coloradans Against the Death Penalty at the 2002 Annual CADP Dinner on January 24, 2002.
