When you meet Winston Moore, you quickly sense you’re in the presence of someone who has mastered the long view—not just in business or community building, but in life itself. At 101, his handshake is steady, his eyes clear, and his humor sharp. “Every day’s a gift,” he says, settling back with the ease of a man who long ago made peace with time.
Though he wasn’t born in Idaho, Winston arrived early enough—and contributed boldly enough—to witness and help shape its transformation from a quiet state famous for its potatoes into one of the nation’s most dynamic regions. Through every era of change, he has remained rooted in three constants: faith, the outdoors, and vision—a perspective that has allowed him to stay grounded, grateful, and deeply connected to the people and places he loves.
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Shaped by the Outdoors
Before Winston became known for shaping much of the Treasure Valley’s commercial backbone, the outdoors had already shaped him. Wilderness was where he learned rhythm, patience, and humility. And while he rarely speaks of it, those who know him understand he was just as accomplished in the outdoors as he was in business. His skill and intuition in wild places earned him quiet recognition among sportsmen across the world.
Yet what mattered wasn’t prestige—it was peace and how to savor it.
“When I’m outside, I feel a peace and calm I don’t feel anywhere else,” he says. “I’m away from people, with my dog, with nature. I feel closer to God there than I ever would in a stained-glass room.”
Whether walking his farm at sunset, sitting under an open sky, or listening to the wild around him, Winston says those hours have been his greatest teacher.
“Nature helped form my character,” he explains. “Out there, I’m just at peace with the world.”
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Faith, Partnership, and Inner Steadiness
Winston’s faith is not loud or formal; it’s woven into the rhythm of his days.
“I talk to God several times a day,” he says. “After every one of those conversations, I feel more at peace—more relaxed.”
That same quiet steadiness defined his marriage to his late wife, Diane, who traveled with him on many of his outdoor adventures.
“I had a beautiful marriage to a lovely woman,” he says, pausing. “Enjoying so much together gave me an inner peace I didn’t think about at the time—but it was a big part of living a long life.”
Their marriage was built on respect, laughter, shared wonder—and an ease that becomes its own kind of longevity. Simple ingredients, accumulated over decades, that create a lifetime of gratitude.
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A Life of Giving—Quietly
Winston’s philanthropy is considerable but rarely public. Over the years, he has supported cornerstone institutions—The College of Idaho, Saint Alphonsus, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, and several outdoor and conservation efforts. Each gift was rooted in gratitude and a desire to strengthen the community that shaped his family and work.
Then, several years ago, he felt called to expand his giving in a more personal direction.
“I prefer helping individuals directly,” he says. “These aren’t charity cases. They’re hardworking people who may never have much—but who deserve more than life handed them.”
He has paid off mortgages, bought reliable cars, purchased condominiums, even helped families secure homes they could never have afforded. Many still visit him with tears in their eyes.
“It makes me feel wholesome,” he says quietly. “Helping someone directly…it does something good in you.”
To Winston, both kinds of giving matter. Supporting institutions builds the community. Supporting individuals builds a life.
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Adaptability, Perspective & The Long View
Winston has lived through wars, recessions, booms, and technological revolutions. Yet he meets each new era with calm, clarity, and perspective.
“I just deal with life as it comes,” he says. “Some changes are good; some aren’t. But I can’t control it all.”
His longevity, he believes, comes from saving his mental energy for what he can influence—and letting the rest fall away.
“Your mind is too valuable to fill with worry,” he says. “If you can’t change it, don’t let it take up space.”
It is, perhaps, the simplest and most profound lesson of his 101 years.
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His Recipe for a Long, Good Life
After a century of leadership, vision, achievement, adventure, and quiet generosity, Winston’s formula is surprisingly clear.
“Live with peace, gratitude, and faith. Don’t waste time on worry. And spend as much time outdoors as you can.”
For someone who has lived more than most of us can imagine, the advice is refreshingly uncomplicated—a long life distilled to its truest parts.
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SIDEBAR
Lessons from 100 Years
Winston Moore’s Guide to Living Well—at Any Age
1. Protect your peace.
Don’t clutter your mind with things you can’t change.
2. Spend time outdoors.
Nature strengthens character and calms the spirit.
3. Keep your mind uncluttered.
Let go of things you can’t change.
4. Talk to God.
Faith brings clarity and calm.
5. Love deeply and loyally.
A strong partnership brings lifelong steadiness.
6. Give quietly.
Supporting nonprofits builds community. Supporting individuals builds a life.
7. Stay grateful.
“Every day’s a gift,” he says. And he lives like it.
Rooted in faith and shaped by the outdoors, Winston carries 101 years with a calm that feels both earned and effortless.
After a century of shifting landscapes, Winston’s perspective remains remarkably simple: save your energy for what matters, adapt to what comes, and never allow the noise of the world to eclipse your purpose.