Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal

By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

The year Richard "Dick" Compton graduated from North Idaho College, Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated as president and Elizabeth II was crowned queen.

It was a special time for the Spirit Lake High School graduate, because it's when he discovered his thirst for knowledge and community service, and when he fell in love with his own queen, Janette.

"I met my wife there. We were married in our sophomore year," Compton said. "We've been married 66 years."

A lovely lifelong relationship has been accompanied by a lifelong drive to work hard and never give up, concepts that also blossomed when Compton was a Cardinal.

"I wasn't prepared to go off to a four-year institution some place. NIC offered me that opportunity to go to a smaller school and dip my toe into higher education," he said. "It was a great experience. A lot of instructors really helped me. Looking back, there were a number of people who saw something in me."

Compton, now 86, took the experiences he had at NIC and went on to build a life for himself as an executive with IBM for 32 years. He worked abroad, including in Hong Kong, where he was responsible for public sector marketing.

"Hong Kong was a fascinating place to live," he said. "We had a great time."

After retiring from that career at the young age of 55, he returned to North Idaho to serve as a Kootenai County commissioner and then two terms as a state senator.

"It was marvelous," he said. "You got a chance to see how state government works firsthand … You can really make a difference in state government."

All along, Compton never forgot his roots. That's why NIC recently honored its successful graduate with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

"I'm very honored to be nominated and selected by the Alumni Association for this honor," he said. "There's nothing better than to be recognized by your community. This is a prestigious award. I appreciate it very much."

The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, created in 2001, is a rare accolade presented to NIC alumni for distinguished and significant achievements. It is for those who have developed regional, national and international reputations. Compton joins the esteemed company of retired Major League Baseball player Jason Bay, 2016 Miss Idaho Kylee Solberg and local entrepreneur and visionary Duane Hagadone.

"Dick is being recognized for his outstanding record of achievement throughout his career with IBM and his years of public service at the state and local level," said Jim Lien, NIC Alumni Association president. "As a young man from a small community, Dick believes the education he received at North Idaho College provided him with the opportunity to advance his career. His success is inspirational and sets a great example for students and alumni."

Pam Noah, alumni relations and development coordinator for the NIC Foundation, mentioned that Compton received a rare standing ovation when he spoke at the awards banquet last month.

"On behalf of the association, we are honored to present him with an award like this," she said. "He exemplifies what it means to be a distinguished alumni. And his outstanding record of achievement, his years of public service. He's very deserving of the award."