Daniel Thomas Symms, director of sales and vice president of Symms Fruit Ranch Inc. in Caldwell, ID, died Oct. 7 following a valiant battle with cancer. He was 52.

Mr. Symms was born Nov. 4, 1961, in Helena, MT, the first child of former Idaho Sen. Steven Symms and his wife Frances Stockdale Symms. He grew up on Symms Fruit Ranch, which was founded by his great grandfather 100 years ago, until his father was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1972. His father served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two in the U.S. Senate, so most of Dan Symms' teen years were spent in Washington, DC.Daniel Thomas Symms

However, he graduated from high school a bit early to move back to Idaho to attend college. In 1983, Mr. Symms graduated from the College of Idaho with a degree in management and marketing. He soon joined Symms Fruit Co. on a full time basis and spent his working life as part of the fourth generation of the Symms family.

During more than 30 years in the produce industry, Mr. Symms worked in most capacities with the firm, including out in the field, but most of his career was spent in sales.

Jim Mertz, vice chairman of the organization and a member of the third generation of the Symms family, said Mr. Symms was a people person with an aptitude for sales. "He was very good at it," said Mertz.

He added that he will be sorely missed, but the company will move on the best it can.

Mr. Symms had customers across the United States, throughout 42 countries and six continents. He was well respected and admired by his customers, employees and colleagues. His daughter, Sally Symms, joined the family firm following her father's death, and is a member of the fifth generation to be in the Idaho fruit industry with Symms Fruit Ranch. The company officially celebrated its centennial on Aug. 1, 2014.

Professionally, Mr. Symms held leadership positions on the Idaho Apple Commission, the Idaho Cherry Commission, the Idaho Horticulture Society, the Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association and as a board member of Northwest Fruit, a charitable organization.

Being exposed to politics at a young age honed Mr. Symms' philosophy promoting the ideals of freedom, individual responsibility and liberty. His interest in the freedom philosophy led him to join others with a like mind. He served as a trustee of the Smeed Foundation, and also served on the board of the Idaho Freedom Foundation and on the board of trustees of the Brandt Foundation.

Mr. Symms is survived by his wife, Linda, three children and many other relatives, including both his mother and father.