Rudi Hempe of Narragansett RI., has been a University of Rhode Island Master Gardener since 1999. An alumnus of URI, Class of 1962, he is a retired editor with 46 years of experience in daily and weekly newspapers. He also was a web science writer for the URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences and the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. He has held several positions with the Master Gardener Program including president, secretary, operations coordinator and research projects leader. He is a member of the New England and Rhode Island Journalism Halls of Fame and the Master Gardener Hall of Fame. He is a founder of the Gardener Foundation with experience in grant writing. Former positions include president of South County Museum, vice president of the Southern RI Conservation District, chair of the South County Hospital Board of Trustees and president of the RI Press Association. Currently he is a trustee of the Narragansett Historical Society. He is a widower with four children, 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.