COEUR d'ALENE — When North Idaho's main economic drivers of timber, mining and agriculture began to sputter more than 30 years ago, Duane B. Hagadone invested in tourism.

Forty years before that, when the chairman of the Hagadone Corp. began selling advertising for The Coeur d'Alene Press, tourism was almost unheard of here.

"I imagine if you would've had a meeting 60, 70 years ago you could have sat those involved in tourism around one table," Hagadone said.

Hagadone, who has invested in marine, golf, restaurant, newspaper and hospitality businesses including the iconic Coeur d'Alene Resort, was named the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce's 2017 recipient of the Kyle M. Walker Champion of Tourism Award on Tuesday at the nonprofit's Upbeat Breakfast at The Resort.

The award is named after the chamber's former executive director who was at the helm when Hagadone was president of the organization nearly 60 years ago.

"It's been amazing to see the economic transition in my lifetime as to what has happened in this community," Hagadone told nearly 200 attendees of the breakfast after he received a standing ovation. "If you go back 40 years ago, this community was in tough shape. But I don't think we've ever been more robust than we are today."

Hagadone said there was a day when Kootenai County residents drove to Spokane for much of their retail shopping and medical needs, but the local economy is now self-sufficient in those industries and more.

"It's been exciting to see the growth and activities that I see today and have seen over the past 70 years," he said. "I look forward to more opportunities for growth for all. All of you in tourism should be proud of the contributions you've made."

Jerry Jaeger, president and co-owner of Hagadone Hospitality Co., attended the breakfast with Hagadone.

Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts said the two took a chance during shaky times.

"I'm grateful for your investment, risk and pure love for this community," Griffitts said.

Griffitts, former president of the Jobs Plus economic development agency, spoke about the economic impact of the local tourism industry during the breakfast.

"It's unbelievably important to our community," he said.

More than 9,000 people — 16 percent of those employed in the Kootenai County — work in the tourism industry. Tourism results in nearly $700 million in traveler spending locally each year. Lodging tax collections in Kootenai County in 2015 totaled $66.3 million.

Griffitts said when considering the "economic multiplier effect," which measures direct, indirect and induced jobs created, tourism's impact on the local economy is huge.

"Money is like manure; it's only good if you spread it around," Griffitts said, borrowing a colorful quote from English philosopher Francis Bacon. "When people travel, the money is spread around at levels exceeding normal habits."

Steve Wilson, the chamber's president and CEO, said Kyle Walker became known as Mr. Coeur d'Alene during his leadership at the chamber.

"Today, there is no better person to assume the mantle of Mr. Coeur d'Alene than today's honoree, Duane Hagadone," Wilson said.