ÔÇïBOISE, Idaho ÔÇô The Idaho Lottery has lost one of its original Commission Members. The Idaho Lottery learned Thursday that Teresa Deshon, its longest-tenured Commissioner from Sandpoint, passed away Wednesday evening at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, Washington after a battle with cancer.

"It is with tremendous sadness the Idaho Lottery Commission learned of the passing of Teresa Deshon, one of our original commissioners," commented Roger Jones, the Idaho Lottery's current Commission Chairman who served with Deshon on the Lottery Commission for eleven years. "Her outstanding service and contributions to the State of Idaho and its citizens will be greatly missed."

In 1989, Deshon was the first appointee by Idaho Governor Cecil D. Andrus to the Idaho Lottery Commission. Deshon has the distinction of being longest tenured Commissioner to the Lottery, serving for its first seventeen years.

"In essence, we feel the Idaho Lottery has lost one of its family members," said Jeff Anderson, current Idaho Lottery Director. "Teresa brought knowledge and great community awareness to the day-to-day business operations of the Idaho Lottery. Her spirit and enthusiastic support will always be felt not only by the Idaho Lottery family, but by the citizens of Idaho. She leaves a tremendous legacy."

"Teresa was a bright and charming woman plus a real asset to the Lottery Commission," added current Idaho Lottery Commissioner Mel Fisher who served with Deshon for three years. "We will keep her and her family in our thoughts and prayers."

As one of the original Idaho Lottery Commissioners, Deshon had a hand in creating the foundation for building the Idaho Lottery up from the ground floor. Major developments during her tenure on the Lottery Commission included the addition of Powerball in 1992 and passing the $1 billion in sales mark in 2002. While a Commissioner, the Idaho Lottery returned $333.5 million in dividends to the people of Idaho for the benefit of public schools and the State's permanent building fund.

In addition to serving on the Idaho Lottery Commission, Deshon was also a pillar of her community for arts and humanities in Bonner County, helping to initiate The Legion of Fine Arts, the precursor to the Pend Oreille Arts Council. She was also a member of the Festival at Sandpoint's advisory board.

###