Earl and Kay Chandler oral history

Kathleen “Kay” J. Chandler was born May 5, 1924, in Malad City, Idaho. She attended University of Idaho from 1942-1944 where she met her husband, Earl Chandler. They married on February 26, 1944, then moved to San Francisco, California at the end of World War II. After one year in California they moved to Boise, Idaho where they raised their three children. In 1971 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Boise State University then obtained her master’s from the University of Utah in 1977.

Kay enjoyed activities with her family including skiing, backpacking, and traveling. She also enjoyed playing competitive bridge, obtaining a grand master status in the game. She spent time volunteering and donated to civic causes she was passionate about, especially those which focused on literacy and children; she created the Junior Great Books discussion groups to the Boise School District and Boise Public Library.

Kay passed away October 17, 2017, in Boise, Idaho. She is buried at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.

Earl Francis Chandler was born May 13, 1922, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho to Oren and Emma Chandler. He was the youngest of seven children raised on the family farm. He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School, then attended University of Idaho on a football scholarship, while also playing basketball and running track. While attending school Earl became a member of the ROTC; he was called to serve in the Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945, then became a representative of the American Legion where he was responsible for inspecting veteran’s hospitals in Idaho, Utah, and Montana.

During his work with the American Legion, Earl became interested in the lumber industry and sought to solve the problems he saw with lumber yards obtaining material and lumber mills locating buyers. He began his business by convincing a local lumber yard to purchase lumber, found the mill to sell it, and arranged for transportation between the two. In 1956 Earl established a wholesale lumber yard located on the corner of Fairview Avenue and Cole Road in Boise. Within a decade the business developed and was called the Chandler Corporation, which was comprised of thirteen distribution centers and lumber remanufacturing plants in ten different states. In 1979 Earl retired and sold his business. Based on his history of innovation in the lumber industry he was asked to act as a consultant on modernization by the Chinese government.

During retirement Earl and Kay traveled extensively, visiting 42 countries and 35 states. He was also active in various organizations including serving as a board member of the Bogus Basin Recreational Association, Boise Philharmonic, Idaho Associated General Contractors, Boise Rotary Club, St. Alphonsus Hospital, First United Methodist Church, Highland Community Center, and Crane Creek Country Club. He also served as a member of the Development Council of the University of Idaho College of Forestry, American Legion, American Legion State Finance Commission, and Disabled American Veterans. Governor Smylie appointed Earl to the Idaho Veteran Affairs Committee in 1958, he continued his service on the committee for over nineteen years and was chairman for fifteen years. In his capacity as chairman, he became the driving force behind the expansion of the Idaho State Veterans Home at Fort Boise in 1966, which replaced the Old Soldiers Home previously located at State Street. He was also appointed as a trustee of the Boise Independent School District and played a role in the construction of Capital High as well as other Boise schools. In 1965 he was recognized by the Idaho Statesman as a Distinguished Citizen and was inducted into the University of Idaho Hall of Fame in 1980.

Earl passed away April 11, 2017, in Boise, Idaho at the Idaho State Veterans Home. He is buried at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.