Sally was raised in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and was her high school class valedictorian, always scientifically oriented. This led her to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she completed her pharmaceutical studies. This was also where she met her future husband, Lee Rudolph, who was studying agriculture at the university. The two married a month after graduation in 1961. Lee’s position with the Illinois Farm Bureau brought them to McLean County in 1965.
A life-changing eight-word invitation from Ruth Prenzler engaged Sally in a lifelong interest in politics. “You should join the League of Women Voters.” And with that invitation, as Sally said, “the rest is history!” She joined the League in 1969 and has been an active member ever since. In 1970 the McLean County board was reorganized. This shift made it possible for Sally to run for a seat on the board representing District 10, which she did, and won, in 1972. Zoning was an issue that intrigued her, and in 1992 she began serving on the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals for 25 years. Sally also found fulfillment in organizing political campaigns and motivating others to engage in politics, especially by uniting people to form coalitions. Looking at her legacy, her quiet leadership shows through. Those eight words – “You should join the League of Women Voters” – brought her into multiple local volunteer opportunities, an invitation she still makes to a younger generation.
