Cecil Andrus
In a water color painting done in 2007 by family friend Karen Piedmont, author Chris Carlson is pictured with Governor Cecil D. Andrus.  A native of Kellogg, Chris attended Columbia University on a scholarship, taught high school in north Idaho, received his M.A. from Idaho State University, was a political reporter in Idaho, and Washington, D.C., and spent nine years as Andrus' press secretary.  He founded what became the region-wide Gallatin Public Affairs firm in 1989.  The onset of Parkinson's disease and a rare form of an incurable and fatal cancer saw him take an early retirement.  He and his wife, Marcia, reside on Cave Lake near Medimont in north Idaho.  Given six months to live in November, 2005, he is still on the sunny side of this good earth.