Bruce King | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 23rd, 25th and 28th Governor of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 1991 – January 1, 1995 | |
| Lieutenant | Casey Luna |
| Preceded by | Garrey Carruthers |
| Succeeded by | Gary Johnson |
| In office January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 | |
| Lieutenant | Roberto Mondragón |
| Preceded by | Jerry Apodaca |
| Succeeded by | Toney Anaya |
| In office January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1975 | |
| Lieutenant | Roberto Mondragón |
| Preceded by | David Cargo |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Apodaca |
| Member of theNew Mexico House of Representatives | |
| In office 1959–1970 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1924-04-06)April 6, 1924 Stanley, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 2009(2009-11-13) (aged 85) Stanley, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Resting place | Stanley Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Bill King Gary King |
| Alma mater | University of New Mexico |
| Profession | Businessman politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Bruce King (April 6, 1924 – November 13, 2009) was an American businessman and politician who for three non-consecutive four-year terms was the governor ofNew Mexico. A member of theDemocratic Party, he was the longest-serving governor in New Mexico history, with 12 years of service.
King was born on April 6, 1924, inStanley, New Mexico. He served in theU.S. Army duringWorld War II. After the war, he attended theUniversity of New Mexico inAlbuquerque,New Mexico.
King's career in politics began when he was elected to theSanta Fe Board of County Commissioners in 1954. He was re-elected and served as the chairman of the board during his second term.
In 1959, he was elected to theNew Mexico House of Representatives. He served five consecutive terms in the House and during three of his terms he wasSpeaker of the House. From 1968 to 1969, King was chairman of the state Democratic Party. In 1969, he was also the president of the State Constitutional Convention.
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In 1970, King was elected governor, defeating RepublicanPete Domenici. He served as the23rd, 25th and 28th Governor of New Mexico from 1971 until 1975, 1979 until 1983 and from 1991 until 1995. His terms were non-consecutive because the New Mexico constitution did not allow governors to succeed themselves before 1991, due toterm limits.
King became the first governor who could succeed himself after the term limit laws were changed and ran for reelectionin 1994, but was defeated for a fourth term by Republican businessmanGary Johnson.
After theChurch Rock uranium mill spill of 1979, King refused the Navajo Nation's request that the site be declared afederal disaster area, limiting aid to affected residents. The spill was the largest release of radioactive material in U.S. history, having released more radioactivity than theThree Mile Island accident four months earlier.[1]
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King was married to his wife Alice for 61 years until her death on December 7, 2008. Their sonGary King served asNew Mexico Attorney General from 2007 to 2015 and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014.
King was recovering from a procedure in September 2009 to adjust thepacemaker that was implanted after he had aheart attack in 1997. He died on November 13, 2009, inStanley, New Mexico, at the age of 85.[2]
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| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Mexico 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Mexico 1978 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Ray Powell | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Mexico 1990,1994 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New Mexico January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of New Mexico January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of New Mexico January 1, 1991 – January 1, 1995 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Military Admin(1846–1851) |  | |
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| U.S. Territory(1851–1912) | ||
| State(since 1912) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
