Cecil D. Andrus began his political career at the age of 29, when he was first elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1960. He served four terms in the Idaho State Legislature. In 1970, Andrus was elected the Governor of Idaho. He was the first person in Idaho state history to be elected Governor four different times, in 1970, 1974, 1986, and 1990. Andrus served as the Chairman of the National Governor's Association in 1976.

Andrus served the United States as its 42nd Secretary of Interior in 1977. He served for four years as a member of President Jimmy Carter's Presidential Cabinet.

Andrus has received four Honorary Degrees from Institutions of Higher Education. He has also been the recipient of many awards and honors during his distinguished political career: the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Man of the Year, 1959; the National Wildlife Federation's Conservationist of the Year, 1980; the Wilderness Society's Ansel Adams Award, 1985; the Audubon Society's Audubon Award, 1985; Idaho State University's Statesman of the Year, 1990; Political Science Honor Society's Statesman of the Year, 1990; and B'nai Birth's Torch of Liberty Award, 1991.

Andrus was initiated into Eugene Chapter in Eugene, Oregon, in 1959. He is a Legion of Honor recipient. Andrus was inducted into the DeMolay Hall of Fame on June 24, 1994.

"The young men of the DeMolay organization are taught responsibility, integrity, and honesty, and those have been the central values in my life. All of us who were involved in DeMolay in my time benefited tremendously from it. There are hundreds of thousands of examples of men whose adult careers were greatly enhanced because of their participation in DeMolay. The sad part of it is that it is such a brief period in our lives that we are able to be a part of it, but it occurs at a time of great changed in a young man's life. DeMolay's lessons last a lifetime."
Honors:

Governor of Idaho and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Began political career at the age of 29 when first elected to the Idaho State Senate-1960

Served four terms in Idaho State Legislature

Elected Governor of Idaho - 1970

Chairman National Governors' Association - 1976

First person in Idaho State history to be elected Governor four different times

Re-Elected in 1974 - 1986 - 1990

Served the United States as its 42nd Secretary of the Interior - 1977

Served four years as a member of President Jimmy Carter's Presidential Cabinet

Four Honorary Degrees from Institutions of Higher EducationVeterans of Foreign Wars' "Man of The Year" -1959

The National Wildlife Federation's "Conservationist of the Year" - 1980

The Wilderness Society's "Ansel Adams Award" - 1985

The Audubon Society's "Audubon Award" - 1985

Idaho State University's "Statesman of the Year" - 1990

Political Science Honor Society's "Statesman of the Year" - 1990

B'nai Brith's "Torch of Liberty Award" - 1991

Eugene Chapter, Eugene, Oregon Initiated: 1949

Legion of Honor