Louise M. Shadduck

Louise M. Shadduck Louise M. Shadduck, age 92, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho died May 4, 2008. She was born Oct. 14, 1915 in Coeur d'Alene to Lester and Mary (Ferguson) Shadduck, one of Coeur d'Alene's early pioneer families. She grew up in Coeur d'Alene and graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1933. Louise was a reporter for the Coeur d'Alene Press and the Spokesman Review simultaneously and was sent by the Coeur d'Alene Press to cover the National Republican Convention in Chicago in 1944. Upon her return from the Midwest, Louise was elected as National Committeewoman for the Young Idaho GOP's, served on the Publicity Committee of the Idaho Young Republicans, and was Secretary and Publicity Chairwoman of the Kootenai County Young Republicans. She served on Idaho Governor Len Jordan's staff and joined Idaho Governor Robins' staff in 1947. In 1948, Louise became the first woman appointed as Executive Secretary for a governor and she was Executive Secretary for U.S. Senator Henry C. Dworshak from 1949 to 1955. Making more strides for women in politics, Louise became the first woman in the U.S. to serve as Director of a State Cabinet, of which Governor Robert E. Smylie appointed her to the Department of Commerce and Development where she served from 1958 to 1968. Louise was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from the University of Idaho in 1969. She was Administrative Assistant to Congressman Orval Hansen, was nominated President of the National Federation of Press Women from 1971 to 1973, and then served as Executive Director of the Idaho Forest Industry Council. Louise was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement in 1996. In 1998 the states congressmen joined Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne with friends and family in a surprise venture to honor Louise with a new Idaho Department of Lands building in Coeur d'Alene named after her. In 2000, Louise was given the Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities awarded by the Idaho Humanities Council and was also honored as Woman of the Millennium by the National Federation of Press Women. In 2004, she received the "Esto Perpetua" award from the Idaho State Historical Society for preserving Idaho's heritage. In addition to her many professional memberships and offices, she was also active in numerous clubs and civic organizations. Her honors and publications are too numerous to mention, but Louise will always be remembered most for the love she had for her great state of Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Avery, Orville, Harvey, Marvin, Lester and Glenn. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d'Alene with Yates Funeral Home in care of the arrangements. A reception will follow at the church. You may visit Louise's memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.