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Idaho's longest serving governor passes |
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August 25, 2017 |
Idaho's longest serving governor, Democrat Cecil
Andrus, died Thursday, one day before his 86th
birthday, from complications related to lung
cancer.
“Cecil Andrus made everyone around him better,"
said current Idaho Governor Butch Otter, a
Republican. "He was a mentor to me and many
others, raising our standards and inspiring us
to think big. He combined stubborn idealism with
common sense – a lunch-bucket liberal proudly
reflecting his timber country upbringing and
values. Whatever you thought of his politics,
Cece was always true to what he believed, and he
believed in Idaho. His voice will be missed in
our public life, and I will miss his counsel and
friendship. Carol and the Andrus family are in
our thoughts and prayers.”
A private funeral is planned for Wednesday,
August 30, in Boise. Andrus will lie in state in
the Idaho Capitol rotunda from noon Wednesday
until noon Thursday. A public memorial service
is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday in the Jordan
Ballroom of the Boise State University Student
Union.
Born August 25, 1931, in Hood River, Oregon,
Andrus graduated high school in Eugene, Oregon,
in 1948, then went to Oregon State University,
where he studied engineering. He and his high
school sweetheart, Carol Mae May, eloped to Reno
in late August, 1949, and he decided to keep
working instead of return to college.
He served in the U.S. Navy Reserves, enlisting
in February, 1951, and served as an electronics
technician aboard patrol aircraft until his
discharged in 1955, when he and Carol moved to
Orofino, Idaho, and Cecil began working in the
woods and in a sawmill his father co-owned.
He ran for the Idaho Senate in 1960 and was
reelected in 1962 and 1964, then ran for
governor in 1966, narrowly losing the Democratic
primary to Charles Herndon, Salmon, Idaho.
Herndon was killed in a plane crash seven weeks
before the election,. and Andrus was appointed
to take his place, but he fell in the general
election to Republican Don Samuelson, Sandpoint.
In a rematch in `1970, Andrus won the seat from
Samuelson, and he won again in 1974. In 1977, he
was appointed Secretary of the Interior by Jimmy
Carter, becoming the first Idahoan to serve on a
presidential cabinet. He served in the role
until 1981, when Carter's term ended.
He again ran for governor in 1986 and earned a
narrow victory, and served until 1995, to be
succeeded by Republican Phil Batt after he
decided not to seek another term.
In public life, Andrus was noted for his strong
conservationist and environmental views and
accomplishments. In 1993, a wildlife preserve
was established Washington County and named the
"Cecil D. Andrus Wildlife Management Area" in
his honor.
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Bert Marley
offered condolences to the Governor’s family and
fellow Idaho Democrats.
“Governor Andrus was an inspiration to me," he
wrote. "As a candidate and a legislator, he was
always available for advice and support. He was
the honorary chairman of my campaign when I ran
for Superintendent of Public Instruction and was
someone who I could always turn to. Governor
Andrus was continuously supportive of the work
we did to try to improve the lives of all
Idahoans.” |
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