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Eye On Boise

Crowds, memories fill BSU ballroom for Andrus memorial service

 (Betsy Z. Russell)
(Betsy Z. Russell)

BSU’s Jordan Ballroom is filling for this afternoon’s public memorial service for the late Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus. There are lots of hugs being exchanged, and memories shared, by people from all over the state.

Jeff Fereday recalled working for Andrus at the Interior Department as a young attorney, and having a Harvard-educated, career lawyer for the department come into his office one day, close the door, and ask, “Who is this guy, and where did he come from?” The Harvard man marveled that Andrus clearly had a hard-scrabble background and didn’t even have a college degree, but said, “He is perhaps the most brilliant, decisive and incisive leader I’ve ever seen. I just want to know: Where did he come from?”

Fereday also recalled Andrus’ farewell at Interior, in a 250-seat auditorium in Interior’s WPA-era offices. “The place was standing-room only, and all around the sides were janitors and secretaries and groundskeepers – regular folks who he had touched,” Fereday recalled. “It was one of the most touching public appearances by anyone I’d ever see.”

Former state Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene, recalled the first time she met Andrus, when he was a young candidate for governor in 1966. “He remembered everyone, because he cared about people,” she said. She remembers seeing him, “his face just lit up by the crowd.”

Jim Hawkins, who served as Andrus’ state Department of Commerce director, recalled Andrus asking him to join his cabinet, and Hawkins wondering if he really wanted to leave the private sector. “He said, ‘Hawkins, you owe it to the state, and I only need you for two years,’” Hawkins said, “and I stayed for eight.” When Hawkins left his state post, he said, “I said, ‘Governor, I made mistakes,’ and he said, ‘Not in my mind.’ I said, ‘What if I had made one?’ He said, ‘I’d a fired you on the spot!’” Pausing, Hawkins said fondly, “I miss him.”

Retired District Judge Mike Wetherell is wearing an old-style “Andrus” campaign button. Asked what year it’s from, he said, “I think this is from the first time he ran in ’66.” Wetherell was Andrus’ neighbor for 30 years, living just two doors down. His favorite story: Wetherell had foot surgery a few years back and was laid up for a while, and it was in the winter. So he started worrying about getting someone to come clear the snow from his home – but as soon as he brought it up, he discovered that Andrus, the neighbor, had already arisen at 6 a.m., “and he got his snowblower out and he did my sidewalk. That’s the kind of stuff he did.” He added, “This is when he was 80 years old.”

Today’s ceremony, which starts at 2 p.m. MT, will include music from the College of Idaho’s Langroise Trio; a welcome from John Hough, master of ceremonies, former press secretary and chief of staff for Andrus and former special assistant to him at Interior; a presentation of colors by the Idaho National Guard and Idaho State Police; the pledge of allegiance led by former Idaho National Guard Adjutant General Darrell Manning, who also served as Andrus’ transportation director; an invocation from Dr. Paul Aitken; remarks on behalf of the family from daughter Tracy Andrus; remarks from Congressman Mike Simpson; a video tribute entitled “Cecil D. Andrus – The Man and His Legacy;” and a remembrance from Marc Johnson, Andrus’ former press secretary and chief of staff from 1986 to 1994. It will close with a benediction and Amazing Grace.   

The ballroom is set up with 1,300 seats; it is rapidly filling.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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