Boise, Idaho – Oct. 19, 2018 – Judd DeBoer received the 2018 Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Recreation and Tourism at the opening reception for the Idaho Conference on Recreation and Tourism in Pocatello this week.

Mr. DeBoer graduated from Willamette University where he met his future bride, Diane, and then served three years as a U.S. Naval Officer. Upon completion of his military service, he joined a San Francisco financial firm where he specialized in portfolio management and investment research. Ten years later he founded Envirotherm, Inc., an insulation firm serving commercial, industrial and residential markets.

In 1980 Judd and Diane purchased Brown’s Industries, Inc., in McCall, Idaho, including an interest in Brundage Mountain Ski Area, of which Diane’s father was a founder.  In 1980 the DeBoer family relocated to Boise and McCall and Judd became active in Brundage Mountain Resort. Since that time, the business has grown by ten times and now employs up to 300 people during peak season.  Expansions at Brundage Mountain have added five chairlifts, SnowCat skiing on 18,000 acres, snowmobile tours, an expanded lodge and other facilities.  In 2006 the DeBoer family bought out their partner, the J.R. Simplot Co., becoming sole owners of Brundage Mountain.

For most of his adult life, Judd has been involved in developing businesses in a variety of industries, but for the past 30 years, recreation and tourism have been his focus. In 2000 the DeBoer family recognized the need for lodging in Riggins, Idaho, then built the Salmon Rapids Lodge overlooking the Salmon River. Today they continue to operate this award-winning hotel. Their son and daughter-in-law founded and manage InIdaho.com, an online central reservations service for people looking for lodging and recreational activities in Idaho. The family also started the Activity Barn, a popular lift-served tubing hill outside of McCall which is now operated by Brundage Mountain Resort.  Other businesses include River Ranch in McCall, Idaho, and Evans Building Center in Eagle, Idaho.

Embracing the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, Mr. DeBoer served six years on the Idaho Travel Council, one year as Chairman.  He states that he is especially proud of what the Council and Department of Commerce have accomplished for Idaho, in particular the growth of small tourism related businesses in rural areas.  His willingness to share his business and marketing experience with tourism organizations and businesses brings both short-term and long-term benefits to the State.

Mr. DeBoer has been a member of the McCall Rotary Club for 35 years and a supporter of the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce for just as long.  He is a member and has served on the board of the Idaho Ski Areas Association and the Intermountain Ski Areas Association, from which he received the “Outstanding Contribution to the Sport of Skiing” award.

Judd and Diane have two daughters and a son with spouses and four grandchildren. The DeBoer family enjoys skiing together and recreating in Idaho’s beautiful outdoors.