What would our city look like without them? When going through some family history last week I came across an old scrapbook that was my father's, Orrin Lee. The scrapbook talked about the time when he came to Coeur d'Alene to take over as dean of what was then Coeur d'Alene Junior College.

I quote: "Arrived in CDA about August 10, 1936 to recruit students. Hired Eugene Bowman in Science and Math Marion McGuire in English and Drama. Enrollment 15 students first semester."

A $7,000 debt was left by the first administration (remember this was in the depth of the Depression). When he left in 1944 to go into the Navy, the debt was paid, North Idaho Junior College was its name, the Fort Grounds campus was acquired and a bond passed for the first building. It took a lot of work and community support to make that happen and many people were involved. Without them at that crucial time would we have the amazing institution that we have today?

Fast forward to the 1980s. Downtown Coeur d'Alene looked a little like a war zone. Empty store fronts everywhere and merchants had moved out to the mall. A group of concerned downtown business owners led by Sandi Bloem as their chairman decided to redefine downtown. After looking at many cities, who had reclaimed their downtowns they decided to go with a Main Street theme and redesigned our downtown to what it is today. It took a lot of work and financial investment to make it happen but look what we have today.

A fellow named Scott Reed, another Quiet Hero, took on the challenge of making Tubbs Hill a place for all the people. When developers took aim at the hill, Scott along with Art Manley and others set out to save the hill. It took many years and lots of pieces to put together to make that happen. Working with the city officials and other community supporters each piece of property was brought into the public domain. They lost a couple, but most of the hill was saved. The Jaycees helped raise the funds for the last parcel to add to the hill. What a treasure we have today.

The land at the base of Tubbs Hill had so many uses over the years: From a lumber mill, to a place for Farragut Housing, to a fairgrounds, to a street shop, to a dusty parking lot. McEuen Field was another challenge taken on by Scott Reed, Art Manley, Orrin Lee, Mae McEuen, Carl Gridley, Ray Kindler, Ernie Hicks, Bob Thomas, Ed Johnson, and Eileen Lund who formed the Lakeshore Development Committee to ensure that the property would remain as public land. It took a battle and a public vote but the citizens prevailed and it became a baseball field and is today a wonderful park for all to enjoy.

There are many Quiet Heroes in our community today and in the past who made a difference and whose sole goal was not personal gain, but to make this a place that is special and remarkable for all its citizens. We are fortunate indeed to have had them in our midst.

Deanna Goodlander is a former member of the Coeur d'Alene City Council.