Thomas L. "Les" Purce (born November 13, 1946)[1] is an American politician, conservationist, and university administrator who served as president of Evergreen State College from July 2000 through October 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Purce served as Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare under governor John Evans from 1977 to 1987. In 1973, Purce was elected to the Pocatello City Council, becoming the first African-American to be elected to public office in Idaho.
Thomas L. Purce | |
|---|---|
| 5th President of Evergreen State College | |
| In office July 1, 2000 – October 1, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jane L. Jervis |
| Succeeded by | George Sumner Bridges |
| Director of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare | |
| In office 1977–1987 | |
| Governor | John Evans |
| Mayor of Pocatello | |
| In office 1976–1977 | |
| Member of Pocatello City Council | |
| In office 1973–1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 13, 1946 Pocatello, Idaho, U.S. |
Early Life and Education
editPurce was born in 1946 in Pocatello, Idaho.[1] His grandfather was Tracey Thompson, a well known rodeo performer in the state.[1] After graduating high school, Purce attended and graduated from Idaho State University, where he would later work as an assistant to university president William E. Davis.[2]
Political Career
editPurce started his political career in 1973, when Purce ran for membership on the Pocatello city council. Upon his election, he was the first African-American to be elected in the State of Idaho.[2][3] After three years of serving as a member of the city council, he would run to become Mayor of Pocatello, and would go on to be successfully elected.[4][5]
After serving as Mayor for a year, he was appointed by Idaho governor John Evans in 1977 to serve as director of the Department of Health and Welfare,[6] an office he held for ten years.[7]
University administration
editIn 2000, Purce was appointed as president of Evergreen State College.[8] Prior to his appointment, he was the vice-president of Washington State University, and had already served as a senior executive at Evergreen State College from 1985 to 1995.[9] During his presidency at Evergreen, he expanded the colleges admissions programs,[10] and served as chair of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics council of presidents.[11] In 2015, Purce resigned from his presidency at Evergreen.[12]
Conservationism
editSince 2021, Purce has been active in preservation efforts of Orcas in the Puget sound, serving as co-chair of the southern resident orca task force.[13][14] In 2023, Governor of Washington Jay Inslee appointed Purce to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.[13]
Purce is a critic of damming on the Lower Snake River.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b c "THOMAS L. PURCE (1946- )". Blackpast. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "Dr. Les Purce: Politician, businessman, and everything in between". KTVB. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "A Timeline of Black History in Idaho" (PDF). Idaho Legislature. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "Former Pocatello Mayor Discusses Public And Private Service". Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "Pocatello Official Becomes Idaho's First Black Mayor". New York Times. January 3, 1976. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2015-4630" (PDF). Washington Legistlature. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "Celebrating Idaho's Black history: Dr. Thomas Les Purce and his work in conservation". Idaho Conservation. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "Past Presidents". Evergreen State College. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "WSU's Les Purce Named President of Evergreen State College". WSU Insider. March 8, 2000. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ Pemberton, Lisa (May 24, 2015). "Les Purce prepares to leave long legacy at Evergreen". The Olympian. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ "Evergreen's Les Purce Named Chair-Elect of NAIA COP". Cascade Confrence. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ "Dr. Les Purce To Step Down As Evergreen (Wash.) President in 2015". NAIA. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "Governor Inslee Appoints Dr. Thomas L. Purce to the Council". Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ "LEADING THE ORCA RECOVERY TASK FORCE: LES PURCE". We Are Puget Sound. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ "Making ourselves whole by breaching the Lower Snake River Dams". Spokesman. Retrieved December 15, 2024.