Honoring Steve Appleton - the late CEO, Micron Technology.
Appleton memorial service: 'What we do know is that Steve lived his life to the fullest'
By Brian Murphy
Posted: 9:34am on Feb 23, 2012; Modified: 7:35pm on Feb 23, 2012
Mark Adams, president of Micron, begins a memorial service for Steve Appleton, Micron CEO, who died in a plane crash on Feb. 3. The public service was at Boise State University on Thursday morning, Feb. 23, 2012. KATHERINE JONES / KJONES@IDAHOSTATESMAN.COMBuy Photo
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LinkVideo: Appleton Service: Invocation by Pastor Rodd Ritchie
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Community members came to Taco Bell Arena on Thursday morning to offer their respects to former Micron CEO Steve Appleton. The "Honoring Steven R. Appleton" memorial service on the campus of Boise State, his alma mater, is the first public event for Appleton.
His family held a small private service at St. John's Cathedral on Feb. 9 after Appleton, 51, died on Feb. 3 when the small high-performance plane he was piloting crashed at the Boise Airport shortly after takeoff.
Before the 10 a.m. service, pictures from Appleton's life flashed on two giant screens accompanied by rock songs, including The Cars' "Good Times Roll." Many of the photos featured Appleton and planes, one of his passions. More than 3,000 people were seated 15 minutes before the service was set to begin. Most of the attendees were part of the Micron family.
Former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne is among the attendees.
Born and raised in Southern California, Appleton moved to Boise in 1978 to play tennis at Boise State. In 1994 at 34, he was named chairman, CEO and president of Micron. He held the position, except for a brief eight-day ouster in 1996, until his death.
Mark Adams, Micron's president, was the first speaker. He said Appleton gave him three bits of advice when he came to business.
"Be aggressive and take risks. Do whatever you can do to win. Get to the right result," Adams said Appleton told him, using photos from a wrestling match between the pair at a Navy Seal training session to illustrate the advice.
Adams said Appleton "never let success change who he was."
Pastor Rodd Ritchie delivered the invocation. "As we remember Steve's life today may rays of joy break through the clouds of grieving," Ritchie said.
Sal Fish, the CEO and president of SCORE International, which is the leading sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing, told stories about Appleton's racing exploits. Appleton won a grueling 1,017-mile race through the desert in his first attempt in 2006, Fish said. Appleton named his racing team "Bad Apple Racing."
"His bucket list was not just doing something and putting it on the shelf or telling his buddies he did it," Fish said. "I learned when he wanted to do something, he did it. He wanted to excel."
Fish said that Appleton was very generous, often giving gifts and donations to the impoverished areas around Baja California in Mexico.
"He was a leader, an innovator, a philanthropist," Fish said.
After Fish spoke, there was a short home video of Appleton at home with his youngest children, Anabella and Jake. It was followed by photos of Appleton and his family, including several Halloween photos with Appleton in full costume. It included video of Jake jumping a short ramp and over his father on a scooter.
Appleton is survived by his wife, Dalynn, and four children — Elishia, Marissa, Anabella and Jake.
Greg Herrick, president of the Aviation Foundation of America, spoke next. Herrick was also an early business associate of Appleton's.
"Steve was an extraordinary pilot," said Herrick, while describing the hundreds of flights that he and Appleton took together.
Herrick said Appleton was also very generous, sending a large care package to a family that Herrick and Appleton met while in Mexico on a flying adventure.
"It happened that we lost him flying. And we try to make sense of that. We cannot. What we do know is that Steve lived his life to the fullest," Herrick said. "We are all better people because Steve is such a positive part of who we are. In some small and great ways, Steve lives in all of us."
After Herrick, another video — this one about Appleton's adventurous side – played. There was video of Appleton in planes, race cars, parachuting, bull fighting, water skiing and playing tennis. The Foo Fighters' "Times Like These" played during the video.
Boise State tennis coach Greg Patton spoke about Appleton's impact on his tennis program. Patton did not coach him, but said "I wished I could have coached Steve Appleton."
"He made my team understand what a self-made man was all about," Patton said. "... He worked his way up through hard work, perseverance, ferociousness, a resolve, a joy for the battle and preparation."
Patton said he had long talks with Appleton about life and success. Patton recounted a story from Appleton's playing days when Appleton broke his right thumb. He had his hand taped to the racket so he could continue playing. Appleton won the Big Sky doubles' championship with a broken right thumb, Patton said.
"He did what he did because he loved the feeling. He loved to live life at a heightened state," Patton said. "... He soared through life. He seized the moment."
Boise State President Bob Kustra spoke about the impact of Appleton on the university.
"His commitment to his alma mater is evident from one end of the campus to the other and it is abundant as well," Kustra said, highlighting Appleton and Micron's impact on engineering degree programs and the new College of Business and Economics building.
Appleton's seat at Taco Bell Arena, where he had season tickets for 23 years, was marked with a red ribbon during the memorial service.
Kustra said Appleton's daughter Marissa is a student at Boise State.
Kustra said he often called Appleton when he had tough decisions to make for the university.
"I'll miss that twinkle in his eye," Kustra said.
"What do we do now? What do we do next? Will it ever be the same? In one sense, it will never ever be the same. In another way that's up to each and everyone of us. The greatest tribute we can pay to a man of Steve's mettle and extraordinary leadership is to puck up the torch and to complete the journey," Kustra said. "... We at Boise State are here to say thanks to Steve Appleton and to promise Dalynn and his family and the Micron family that we will carry the torch.
"... He will not soon be forgotten by the alma mater he never forgot."
Brian Toohey, the president of the Semiconductor Industry Association, spoke next at the memorial. He said that Appleton was pivotal in helping save the American semiconductor industry.
"This accomplishment, winning the global fight, typifies Steve Appleton," Toohey said. "He wasn't content to be a player. He wanted to be the best."
Many representatives of the semiconductor industry are on hand for the memorial.
"We resolve to build upon his legacy," Toohey said. "Our industry and our country have lost a visionary, a friend."
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter spoke next about Appleton's impact on the state.
"Steve Appleton was very impatient with government," Otter said, adding that he was a man of few words.
Otter also quoted Jack London. "I would rather be ashes than dust," he said. "... I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall live my life."
Otter closed his speech with words that he would have liked to say to Appleton.
"Husband and father, legendary. Businessman, a leader. Innovator, Edison-esque. Friend, golden," Otter said.
Current Micron CEO Mark Durcan delivered the final tribute. He said that Appleton was "a man who always did rather than observe or comment on."
Duran told stories about Appleton's loyalty to his workers and his hard-charging ways.
"He always made sure that what we were focused on what the successful future of Micron," Durcan said. "He cared so deeply about Micron the company and each of his employees."
A Micron flag that was given to Dalynn Appleton.
"As much as Steve loved Micron and as much as Steve loved Boise State and his racing and his flying, there was nothing closer to his heart than his family," Durcan said. "We're here today to remember him but not to forget him."
The 90-minute service closed with a video tribute called "Heroes." It showed video of Appleton from his childhood and school pictures throughout the years and traced his professional career, showing pictures of him with Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and testifying before Congress.
As guest filed out of Taco Bell Arena, Elton John's "Your Song" played over the speakers. A flyover was scheduled for 10 minutes after the ceremony.
Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/23/2006566/community-turns-out-for-appleton.html?storylink=fblikebtn#storylink=cpy
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