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I had the great opportunity to support Andrus in my last year of college when he opposed the White Clouds mining operation as unneeded. It was a debacle waiting to happen. He won the election and history was made. Andrus was one of four legitimate statesman Idaho has had. He said in his office one time with Bonner County’s own Merle Parsley and me, “all these damned politicians.” I said “Governor, you seek statesman, you get politicians.” He looked at me and said, “I like that, can I use it?” I replied, “of course, I don’t think Winston Churchill will mind.”

He was exceptional in many respects, his memory is what most folks comment on. I have seen it in action many times. One stands out. I was attending a “wienie roast” fundraiser on a small horse operation in Eagle, Idaho. Andrus was late. When he arrived he walked around the pasture “glad handing” about 80 or so guests, calling each by name. At the end of these rounds, he walked over to a small hay stack where an old German Shepard was sleeping on some gunny sacks, he got down on one knee and petted the scruffy old dog and said, “Sarge, how ya doin’?” He had met the dog once, 12 years earlier.

His charisma, honesty and decency shan’t soon be matched.

L. SCOTT HANCOCK

Hope