Rudolph Johnson, (Rudy the Nudie) born May 20, 1886, was the founder of the Cobblestone Suntanners club near Yelm, Washington in 1946, co-founder of the Northwest Sunbathing Association in 1947, and president of the American Sunbathing Association from 1950-1952. As president, he presided over a contentious national convention at Penn-Sylvan Health Club in Redding, PA in 1951, at which ASA founder and former Executive Secretary Ilsley Boone was ousted from his position by reformists within the organization, resulting in the ASA splitting into two warring factions: the reformists desiring democratic representation, and the Boone supporters who wanted him to retain tight control over the ASA. The faction representing the old guard did not recognize Rudolph’s re-election as president at this assembly, instead nominating Illinois’ Zoro Nature Park owner Alois Knapp to the role. Rudolph silently served as president for the reformists until the split was resolved by court judgement in 1952, resulting in the reformists taking permanent control over the ASA. It was after this win that Rudolph’s second term as ASA president was retroactively acknowledged.
Rudolph built the gigantic 30’x100’ swimming pool by hand in 1949-50 using cobblestones sourced from the Deschutes River, which ran through his land in the Bald Hills of rural Thurston County, Washington. The Cobblestone Suntanners hosted the 1950 ASA National Convention, at which the pool was named “Lake Rudolph” in Rudolph’s honor. It was also at this convention that Rudolph was elected president of the ASA. 1 Naturist Vintage
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