This week, Carl Crabtree’s friends and colleagues remembered the former state senator. They described him as a “fierce” advocate for education. He fought for investments in literacy and represented the needs of local school leaders at the Statehouse.
According to state superintendent Debbie Critchfield, Crabtree died on Tuesday. He had been battling brain cancer recently. After serving in the Legislature for six years, Crabtree worked in Critchfield’s office. From 2016 to 2022, he represented District 7 in the Idaho State Senate. Until the 2022 legislative redistricting, District 7 covered much of the southern part of Bonner County.
Crabtree was a rancher from Grangeville. He managed Idaho County’s 4-H program for 27 years. He also worked as the county’s weed management supervisor for 31 years. Besides, he served as an extension agent for the University of Idaho. He led the Idaho
Cattle Association and Idaho Beef Council at different times.
In 2016, Crabtree was elected to the Idaho Senate. He narrowly beat longtime incumbent Sheryl Nuxoll in the Republican primary election. He served on the Senate Education Committee and Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, among others. He won reelection twice.
On Tuesday, Critchfield made an emotional statement. She said she lost one of her “dearest friends” and Idaho “lost a true champion.” She praised Crabtree’s work to raise awareness about dyslexia. In 2022, he sponsored a bill. The bill required public schools to screen students for dyslexia. It also asked schools to train teachers to identify this learning disability, which affects about 20% of people.
“Carl Crabtree was more than a colleague,” Critchfield said. “He was a cowboy at heart, a fierce education advocate, and a man of great integrity. Carl’s passion for serving Idaho’s students and families never changed, even when he was fighting cancer. His work on early literacy and dyslexia resources, and his efforts to support educators, will be remembered. His legacy will live on in the lives he changed.”
Robin Zikmund is the president of Decoding Dyslexia Idaho. Zikmund co-authored House Bill 731, the dyslexia intervention bill. Zikmund said Crabtree did more than just sponsor the bill to support dyslexic children and their families. He “fully committed himself to the cause.”
“He took time to learn about dyslexia,” Zikmund said. “He understood how common this learning difference is. He listened to Idaho families and educators talk about the challenges students face. Most importantly, he kept his promises. Sen. Crabtree showed me what it means to be a statesman. He inspired many of us to be better people.”
In 2022, the Idaho School Boards Association gave Crabtree its Friend of Education award. This was to recognize his support for public schools. The next year, Lewis-Clark State College gave him its President’s Medallion.
Quinn Perry is the deputy director for government affairs at the ISBA. Perry said Crabtree made sure to meet with school board members and superintendents. He then voiced their needs at the Statehouse. Perry also said Crabtree was not afraid to speak out on important education issues, even if there were political risks.
One example was his push to fund full-day kindergarten. This idea was controversial among fellow Republicans. Crabtree argued that increasing state funds for full-day kindergarten – which is mostly paid for by local tax revenue – would reduce property taxes and improve early literacy. He said many students, especially in rural communities, entered school unprepared.
“Carl was the son of a schoolteacher,” Perry said. “He respected and understood why public schools were important to rural communities. He also knew why agriculture and career – technical education were as important as literacy. We will miss Carl as a friend and as someone who worked hard to make progress for Idaho’s children.”
In 2022, lawmakers approved a $47 million increase in literacy spending for public schools. This money could be used for full-day kindergarten.
Later that year, Crabtree lost his reelection bid to Sen. Cindy Carlson, a Republican from Riggins, in the GOP primary. The day after the election, he was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Doctors said he had six months to live, Crabtree told the Lewiston Tribune at that time.
In 2023, Critchfield hired Crabtree as the intergovernmental affairs director in the superintendent’s office. There, he worked with the Idaho Land Board and Legislature. Critchfield said on Tuesday that Crabtree beat esophageal cancer but later died of brain cancer.
On Tuesday, other former colleagues honored Crabtree in social media posts.
“Idaho lost a great man today,” said former Rep. Julie Yamamoto, a Republican from Caldwell. “We send love to Carl’s family. Many friends are grieving with you.”
“The world will be a different place without Carl Crabtree,” said former Rep. Caroline Nilsson Troy, a Republican from Genesee.
