While the state, computer manufacturing and business world reel from Steve Appleton’s death, his loss is felt on a more personal level in Boise, the town he has called home since 1978.
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter said Appleton’s commitment to Boise was made evident by his actions.
When Micron made a global name for itself, the company could have moved its headquarters anywhere; Appleton could have picked any locale to raise his family.
He chose to keep his family and his company in Boise.
And he did it without fanfare, said Bieter. Appleton attended the school carnival and volunteered just like other parents at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, where both men sent their children.
“He was out on the playground with the rest of us,” said Bieter. “He just hung out with the other parents. There was no entourage. He was just a parent.”
Added Bieter: “That says more than anything can about Steve Appleton. I don’t know anyone of his stature who would do that.”
Bieter lost both his parents in a car crash in 1999. He said he talked to Micron employees Friday who were grieving.
“This to all of us feels like a loss of someone in our family,” said Bieter.
EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Last month, the College of Western Idaho received one of its largest gifts: $2.5 million from the Micron Foundation to help renovate the college’s new professional technical center in the former Sam’s Club building in Nampa — another shot in the arm for the fundraising effort that began with a $13 million grant from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.
The new center, slated to open in the fall, will double the space for technical programs, including diesel technology, welding, auto body and more, now housed at Boise State. More space is vital; CWI has not had room to accommodate all the students who want to study in technical fields, and are funneled from local high school programs, said college spokeswoman Jennifer Couch.
“Micron’s sense of dedication to the community, and to education, starts from the top down,” said Couch.
Micron also has donated $3.6 million to the University of Idaho, which was used to add rooms to the Albertson College of Business and Economics and to the College of Engineering buildings and to fund the science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and education program.
Micron also contributed to Boise schools to support math and science education and activities. The Micron Foundation donated $1 million to help start the Treasure Valley Math and Science Center, which opened in 2004 and serves public and nonpublic school students.
COMMITMENT TO LITERACY
News of Appleton’s death cast a pall over the Learning Lab’s annual Boise lunch Friday.
Appleton and Micron were longtime supporters of the organization, said its executive director, Ann Heilman.
A decade ago, when the lab marked its 10-year anniversary, Appleton made a video for the organization in which he spoke about the importance of literacy for the community and the workforce. The Micron Foundation backed up those sentiments by offering educational programs like Micron Math Month and Science in My World to organizations like the Learning Lab.
“These programs were for parents and their children, and a way to help them understand that math and science are fun — and aren't just for well-to-do families," said Heilman.
The Learning Lab provides literacy programs for adults and children, many of whom are struggling economically.
Appleton himself helped the Learning Lab in more personal ways, said Heilman, donating copies of the books he liked to read with his own children to the organization’s silent auctions.
Cynthia Sewell: 377-6428, Anna Webb: 377-6431
