Steven D. Symms' Obituary
Steven D. Symms - Remembering a Legacy
Former United States Senator Steven D. Symms passed away on August 9, 2024, at his Virginia home, surrounded by his family.
Born on April 23, 1938, in Nampa, Idaho, Steve was the son of George Darwin Symms and Irene Knowlton Symms. His father and Uncle Doyle managed the Symms Fruit Ranch in Caldwell, Idaho, that their father, R.A. Symms, started in 1914. Steve’s mother was a schoolteacher, homemaker, and always had a tin full of cookies. Steve attended Sunny Slope School, where he and his classmates often rode horses to the two-room schoolhouse. He later attended Marsing High School before transferring and graduating from Caldwell High School in 1956. Steve enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow, where he played football for the Vandals, earned a letter all four years, and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.
A proud Sigma Nu, Steve met and fell in love with Frances Stockdale, a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, where his sister Ginger was also a member. They married in 1959 and had four children: Dan (1961), Susan (1964), Amy (1968), and Katy (1969). After college, Steve served proudly in the U.S. Marine Corps, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. He was deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, prepared to defend the country against communism. In 1964, Steve returned to Symms Fruit Ranch to work alongside his brother Dick and built the family business.
In 1972, Steve was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving four terms. Steve’s tenure in Congress was guided by his absolute commitment to the Constitution and his unwavering defense of freedom. His campaign ads were iconic, with one -- “Let’s Take a Bite out of Government” -- featuring him taking a bite out of an apple as a metaphor for reducing the size of government. Steve’s commitment to the right to keep and bear arms was highlighted in another ad, which said: “In this country, we have three boxes to defend our freedoms. The first box is the ballot box. If that fails, we have the jury box. And, if all else fails, we have the cartridge box.”
Steve died on the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s resignation from the Presidency. During his first year in Congress, Steve had the privilege of being able to vote against the impeachment of then-President Nixon. With the passage of time and the release of documents that were previously not publicly available, we now know that Steve’s belief in then-President Nixon’s innocence was right. That vote was one of many that illustrated Steve’s commitment to doing what was right to defend our freedom and our constitutional republic, rather than caving in to doing what was politically expedient.
In the House of Representatives, Steve helped build the conservative movement alongside fellow Congressmen Jack Kemp, Phil Crane, John Rousselot, among others. That “movement” culminated with the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan as President and the change in control of the Senate to Republicans. In 1980, Steve defeated Idaho Senator Frank Church further cementing the Reagan Revolution, serving two terms in the U.S. Senate. Steve’s historic election night victory celebration was blessed by a glorious meteor shower. After being sworn into the Senate in January 1981, Steve was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Budget Committee, the Joint Economic Committee, and chaired the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation Subcommittee. His tenure in the Senate also included serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In the Senate, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the Estate and Gift Tax Subcommittee, Steve played a crucial role in shaping and enacting the 1981 Reagan tax cuts. As Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee, he successfully led the legislative effort to complete the “last leg” of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway system and continued to enact legislation that improved and expanded the nation’s highway infrastructure system. He also spearheaded the legislation that removed federal laws restricting states’ control over speed limits, famously saying that Washington D.C. had no business setting the speed limits in Nampa, Idaho.
While Steve had numerous legislative accomplishments, some highlights include national defense enhancements for Mountain Home Air Force Base, Gowan Field National Guard, and Idaho National Laboratory programs and facilities, as well as building the I-84 connector into downtown Boise and relocation and completion of a new Horseshoe Bend Hill highway 55 segment.
As a staunch conservative, Steve was known for his ability to reach across the aisle, addressing complex legislative issues while prioritizing the interests of Idahoans. He was well-respected and liked by colleagues, even those with opposing political views. Notably, it was Senator Patrick Moynihan, a Democratic Senator from the State of New York, who was the keynote speaker at Steve’s Senate retirement party.
Steve served in Congress at a time when Members and their families knew each other personally, thus enabling them to work together and reach a consensus to advance the country’s interests. While maintaining his strong conservative values, Steve’s charismatic personality combined with the personal relationships he and his family built with his Congressional colleagues, resulted in him being a very effective legislator. As a testament to his credibility, Steve was honored to be the first-ever guest on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show in April 1990.
After leaving public service in 1992, he remained committed to conservative causes, receiving the “Iron Mike” award from the U.S. Marine Corps League for his contributions to America and the Marine Corps. Steve also received the Idaho Statesman of the Year Award from Idaho State University, recognizing his steady leadership in political circles. He was active in the Foundation for Economic Education and the Freedom Alliance, organizations dedicated to preserving freedom, the U.S. Constitution, and God-given natural rights.
Following his service, Steve worked as a consultant and later joined the partnership of Perry, Romani, DeConcini, and Symms in Washington, D.C., where he was respected by colleagues across the political spectrum. Living in Leesburg, Virginia, with his beloved wife Loretta Fuller Symms, Steve enjoyed the camaraderie at Lansdowne Golf Club with his Mulligan group, engaging in debates, laughter, and "solving world problems."
Steve was predeceased by his wife, Loretta Fuller Symms; former wife, Frances Stockdale Symms; his son, Daniel Thomas Symms; his brother, R.A. "Dick" Symms; and his sister, Shirley Maggard Ickes. He is survived by his sister, Ginger Kleweno (Gilbert); sister-in-law, Nancy Symms; cousins Jim and Kathy Mertz; Roger and Jan Bacon; daughters Susan Stauffer (Darris), Amy Crabtree (Charles), Katy Senkus (Stephen); stepchildren Vickie Fuller (Jeff), Jodi Fuller (Diane), Brad Fuller (Jeffrey); and many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial service to honor Steve’s extraordinary life and contributions will be held in Caldwell, Idaho, on August 24 at 10:30 a.m. at College of Idaho's Jewett Auditorium . Friends, family, and colleagues are invited to celebrate his remarkable journey and pay their respects.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Idaho Freedom Foundation.
802 W Bannock St. #405 Boise, ID 83702
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
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