COEUR d'ALENE - Pat Acuff didn't have to look far to get interested in real estate.

His father, Joe, started Acuff Realty, Inc., in 1955 and Pat started as a salesman with the firm in 1957.

"I watched how my father handled himself and thought that would be a good career," Pat said. "It's been a good ride. You get to be your own boss and set your own hours. I've enjoyed it, and I'm not going anywhere."

Acuff was honored as a Realtor emeritus of the National Association of Realtors during the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtor's meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Inn on Tuesday.

Rick Vernon of the CAR said Acuff is the longest serving member of the local group. To earn the emeritus honor, individuals must have made 40 years of contributions to the industry.

"He certainly did that at the local, state and national levels," Vernon said, adding that Acuff is a "legend" in the industry.

When Acuff entered the field, there were about 90 local Realtors. Today there are more than 1,000. Acuff said the '80s were as challenging as the recent recession or even more so, but the Coeur d'Alene area's beauty has always made North Idaho a desirable place to move to and the market has rebounded as a result.

Acuff, who owned Acuff Realty from 1974 to 2001 when it was purchased by Century 21 Beutler and Associates, has worked alongside his wife, Heidi, in the industry.

He received his real estate license in 1967 after graduating from the University of Idaho with a real estate and marketing degree.

Acuff served as the CAR president in 1972 and 1993. He was named Realtor of the Year in 1973 and received the Lifetime Service Award from CAR in 2011.

He started a newspaper tab in the Coeur d'Alene Press called "The Coeur d'Alene Realtor" that ran for 10 years.

Acuff was president of the Idaho Association of Realtors in 1984 and received the IAR's President's Award for helping change national tax policy.

Tuesday's honor from the national group earned him a pin, certificate and dues waiver for the rest of his career.

* Idaho first lady Lori Otter thanked the CAR for its participation in the Idaho Meth Project, which educates the public about the dangers of the drug.

Among the new initiatives with the program is a Teen Advisory Council in which students serve as ambassadors for the program in their schools. Eighteen students are involved in the council and the goal is to increase the group by 18 each year.

Otter said one of the best ways the public can help the program is to support the K9 programs of their local police departments.

"K9 squads can find a whole lot of this stuff pretty quickly," Otter said.