Dirk Kempthorne, the former Idaho governor who served as President George W. Bush’s second interior secretary, died Friday in Boise at 74. A Republican who rose to prominence as Boise’s mayor in the late 1980s, he later led the Interior Department during a period of intense debate over public land sales and environmental regulation.

Kempthorne’s career bridged local and federal politics. As governor from 1998 to 2006, he won re‑election by a 14‑point margin and championed parkland along the Boise River, cementing the city’s reputation as a sports‑and‑outdoors hub. His tenure in Washington saw clashes over the sale of public lands and the protection of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act, a move that drew a lawsuit from Alaska.

The late former official battled colon cancer, undergoing chemotherapy last year. He is survived by his wife Patricia, children Jeff and Heather, and grandchildren. His death marks the end of a career that blended environmental stewardship with a pragmatic approach to resource development.