Education changed my life. Literally changed my life. Any successes I’ve had personally or professionally I owe to the education I received in Idaho. My mother had a high school education and I’m not even sure my father graduated from high school. The family lore is that he lied about his age, quit school and joined the Navy so he could serve his country in World War II. Tragically, my father died when he was 25 years old in a car accident near Idaho City four months before I was born. My mother was left to raise a 4-year-old son and one on the way. Although we did not have much money, my mother was a true believer in education and encouraged me to get as much education as I could.