Ron Edinger well worthy of the recognition

If one did not know Ron Edinger, one might wonder what all the fuss was about. Why does the name "Ron Edinger Park" adorn the entrance to Person Field off 15th Street in Coeur d'Alene? Why did they just name a conference room after him at City Hall? What's the deal with Ron Edinger?

You didn't have to know Ron Edinger to understand why, more than four years after his death, he is still praised, still fondly remembered. His accomplishments in a long career serving the city as a councilman, mayor and in other roles speak for themselves. We won't repeat all of them here. They have been said before and will be said again.

But if you did have the good fortune of knowing Ron Edinger, you are in good company. He had an easy smile and a relaxed way about him. Not to say he wasn't intense. When it came to decisions at City Hall, you could feel his intensity. 

And even if you just met him, he acted like your best friend. He was, to use a cliche, unique. A plain-talking, cigarette-smoking, community-minded man who may not have always been the smartest person in the room and did not have a prestigious job title, working as a custodian, bus driver and sports official among his many jobs.

But he was certainly one who spoke and acted from the heart and let common sense be his guide. There was little doubt he always represented the people, not the establishment. He was what many liked to say, a man of the people. He pretty much said what he was thinking. He wasn't trying to fool anyone. He didn't have ulterior motives. He made it clear where he stood on issues, why he stood there, and what he wanted to see happen. He was in many ways the heart of Coeur d'Alene. 

To Ron Edinger, nothing mattered more than family and his wife, Nancy. A close second was Coeur d'Alene. His mark on this city, even today, is considerable. A few of the most notable achievements during his 50 years of public service included the purchase of Tubbs Hill and the development of Independence Point, both of which, not surprisingly, remain gathering points for the public, as Ron wanted.

In some ways, it seems out of character for a conference room to be named for Ron Edinger. His personality, his influence, and his actions stretch far beyond the walls of City Hall. But then again, the very decisions that affect the city he loved and the people he represented can be traced to discussions inside the very room bearing his name. Perhaps it is fitting, after all. 

We hope it simply reminds people of a special man named Ron Edinger, who cared greatly for the place he called home.