Dirk Arthur Kempthorne has been governor of Idaho, a U.S. Senator and served as the 49th U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2009.

Dirk Arthur Kempthorne served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2009. Kempthorne, a San Bernardino native, graduated from San Gorgonio High School and attended SBVC for one year before transferring to the University of Idaho. He graduated in 1975 with a degree in political science. He became assistant to the director of the Idaho Department of Lands and was executive vice-president of the Idaho Home Builders Association. Kempthorne also was state public affairs manager for FMC Corp., which provides innovative and cost-effective solutions for food and agriculture, pharmaceutical, glass and ceramics and textiles, among other industries. Kempthorne was elected mayor of Boise in 1985 and served seven years. He was a U.S. Senator from 1993 to 1999.  Kempthorne also was Governor of Idaho from 1998 to 2006. That year, he was nominated by President Bush and became the 49th U.S. Secretary of the Interior. He served in that role from 2006 to 2009. Kempthorne gave the commencement address at SBVC in 1999 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame that year.