City of Boise Honors Late Governor by Dedicating Cecil D. Andrus Park

Joined by members of the Andrus family, Boise Mayor David Bieter officially renamed the park Cecil D. Andrus Park, including the dedication of a new plaza and a bronze bust of Andrus as part of an afternoon celebration. More than 300 participants enjoyed the warm afternoon in the park just across Jefferson Street from the Idaho Statehouse, where Andrus held office as Idaho’s longest-serving governor.

“Governor Andrus is an Idaho giant,” Mayor Bieter said. “His mark upon this state is indelible and the respect he earned as a leader is represented by the crowd here today. The naming of this park in his honor, the plaza and the bust are small gestures of thanks from the residents of Boise and will remind generations of Idahoans of his life-long service on their behalf.”

The park’s new plaza highlights Andrus’ conservation accomplishments as Idaho’s longest-serving governor and interior secretary for the Carter Administration.

Tracy Andrus, Gov. Andrus’ daughter spoke on behalf of the four generations of Andrus family members present at the ceremony and helped Mayor Bieter unveil the bust of her father. The cast bronze bust was created by Benjamin Victor, a Boise-based internationally recognized sculptor and the only living artist to have two works in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol

“We want to express our deepest gratitude for honor you have bestowed on our father, grandfather, great-grandfather and husband,” Andrus said. “This park is the best legacy for dad and his work on behalf of the state he loved.”

The Cecil D. Andrus Ambassadors Honor Choir, made up of 100 fourth and fifth graders from Cecil D. Andrus Elementary school in Boise, sang two songs at the ceremony to honor their school’s namesake: “Here We Have Idaho” and “Sisi ni Moja (We are One).”

The family-friendly dedication also included art and recreational activities for children relating to Andrus’ love for the outdoors.

PHOTO CAPTION: (L to R: Sculptor Benjamin Victor, Mayor David Bieter, Tracy Andrus and Carol Andrus unveil a cast bronze bust of the late Gov. Cecil Andrus at today’s dedication of Cecil D. Andrus Park.