# Bruce King

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American businessman and politician (1924–2009)

For the American football player, see [Bruce King (American football)](/source/Bruce_King_(American_football)). For the psychologist, see [Bruce M. King](/source/Bruce_M._King). For the chemist, see [R. Bruce King](/source/R._Bruce_King).

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 the New 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 Party Democratic Spouse Alice King ​ ​ (m. 1947; died 2008)​ 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 of [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico). A member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he was the longest-serving [governor](/source/Governor) in New Mexico history, with 12 years of service.[1]

## Early life, education, and early political career

King was born on April 6, 1924, in [Stanley, New Mexico](/source/Stanley%2C_New_Mexico).[2] He served in the [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). After the war, he attended the [University of New Mexico](/source/University_of_New_Mexico) in [Albuquerque](/source/Albuquerque%2C_New_Mexico), [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico).[3]

King's career in politics began when he was elected to the [Santa Fe](/source/Santa_Fe_County%2C_New_Mexico) Board of County Commissioners in 1954.[4][5] He was re-elected and served as the chairman of the board during his second term.

In 1959, he was elected to the [New Mexico House of Representatives](/source/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives).[4] He served five consecutive terms in the House and during three of his terms he was [Speaker of the House](/source/Speaker_(politics)). From 1968 to 1969, King was chairman of the state [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_of_New_Mexico). In 1969, he was also the president of the State Constitutional Convention.

## Governor of New Mexico

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County results of the [1990 New Mexico gubernatorial election](/source/1990_New_Mexico_gubernatorial_election)

In 1970, King was elected governor, defeating Republican [Pete Domenici](/source/Pete_Domenici). He served as the [23rd, 25th and 28th Governor of New Mexico](/source/List_of_governors_of_New_Mexico) from 1971 until 1975, 1979 until 1983 and from 1991 until 1995.[6] His terms were non-consecutive because the New Mexico constitution did not allow governors to succeed themselves before 1991, due to [term limits](/source/Term_limits_in_the_United_States).

King became the first governor who could succeed himself after the term limit laws were changed and ran for reelection [in 1994](/source/New_Mexico_gubernatorial_election%2C_1994), but was defeated for a fourth term by Republican businessman [Gary Johnson](/source/Gary_Johnson).

After the [Church Rock uranium mill spill](/source/Church_Rock_uranium_mill_spill) of 1979, King refused the Navajo Nation's request that the site be declared a [federal disaster area](/source/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 the [Three Mile Island accident](/source/Three_Mile_Island_accident) four months earlier.[7]

## Personal life

King was married to his wife Alice for 61 years until her death on December 7, 2008. In 1974, as governor, Bruce and Alice co-founded the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts to celebrate the contribution of local artists.[8] Together they had two children, Bill and Gary. Their son [Gary King](/source/Gary_King_(politician)) served as [New Mexico Attorney General](/source/New_Mexico_Attorney_General) from 2007 to 2015 and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014.[9][10]

King was recovering from a procedure in September 2009 to adjust the [pacemaker](/source/Artificial_cardiac_pacemaker) that was implanted after he had a [heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction) in 1997. He died on November 13, 2009, in [Stanley, New Mexico](/source/Stanley%2C_New_Mexico), at the age of 85.[11]

## Bibliography

- Becknell, Charles Sr. (2003) "No Challenge, No Change: Growing Up Black in New Mexico" Jubilee Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9744573-0-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9744573-0-7)

- Colvin, Mark (1982). "The 1980 New Mexico Prison Riot." *Social Problems* 29.

- Colvin, Mark (1992). "The Penitentiary in Crisis". *Accommodation to Riot in New Mexico*, State University of New York Press.

- King, Bruce (1998). *Cowboy in the Roundhouse: A Political Life*. Santa Fe: Sunstone Press.

- McCaffery, Fred (February 14, 1979). "Political Game Snares Becknell" *New Mexican Opinion*

- "New Report Describes Events Surrounding New Mexico Prison Riot". (June 8, 1980). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Weber, Bruce (2009-11-14). ["Bruce King, 3-Term Governor, Dies at 85"](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/us/14king.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2026-05-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Haussaman, Heath. ["Former Gov. Bruce King dies at 85"](https://nmpolitics.net/index/2009/11/former-gov-bruce-king-dies/). *nmpolitics.net*. Retrieved 2026-05-14.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Legendary 3 term NM Governor Bruce King dies at 85 - The Classical Music Guide Forums"](https://classicalmusicguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=32142). *classicalmusicguide.com*. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) ["Bruce King"](https://www.nga.org/governor/bruce-king/). *National Governors Association*. 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Board of County Commissioners to Honor Governor Bruce King"](https://www.santafecountynm.gov/news/detail/board-of-county-commissioners-to-honor-governor-bruce-king). *www.santafecountynm.gov*. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Bruce King"](https://www.nga.org/governor/bruce-king/). *National Governors Association*. 2011-01-01. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260208054650/https://www.nga.org/governor/bruce-king/) from the original on 2026-02-08. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Pasley, James. ["Inside the Navajo Church Rock Nuclear Disaster, the largest radioactive disaster in US history that's somehow often forgotten"](https://www.insider.com/photos-church-rock-the-largest-radioactive-disaster-us-history-2023-6). *Insider*. Retrieved 2023-09-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts"](https://www.newmexicoculture.org/arts/governors-awards-for-excellence-in-the-arts). *www.newmexicoculture.org*. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** KRWG (2009-11-14). ["Former Governor Bruce King Dies"](https://www.krwg.org/regional/2009-11-13/former-governor-bruce-king-dies). *KRWG Public Media*. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Alice King Obituary December 7, 2008"](https://www.harris-hanlonmortuary.com/obituaries/888949). *Harris-Hanlon Mortuary*. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Former Gov. Bruce King dies"](http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Former-Gov--Bruce-King-dies). *[Santa Fe New Mexican](/source/Santa_Fe_New_Mexican)*. November 13, 2009.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

## External links

- [Bruce King](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44302395) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?17039) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)

Party political offices Preceded by Fabian Chavez Jr. Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico 1970 Succeeded by Jerry Apodaca Preceded by Jerry Apodaca Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico 1978 Succeeded by Toney Anaya Preceded by Ray Powell Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico 1990, 1994 Succeeded by Martin Chávez Political offices Preceded by David Cargo Governor of New Mexico January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1975 Succeeded by Jerry Apodaca Preceded by Jerry Apodaca Governor of New Mexico January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 Succeeded by Toney Anaya Preceded by Garrey Carruthers Governor of New Mexico January 1, 1991 – January 1, 1995 Succeeded by Gary Johnson

v t e Governors of New Mexico U.S. Military Admin (1846–1851) Military Kearny Price Washington Munroe Civilian Bent Vigil Connelly U.S. Territory (1851–1912) Calhoun Lane Meriwether Rencher Connelly Mitchell Pile Giddings Axtell Wallace Sheldon Ross Prince Thornton Otero Hagerman Curry Mills State (since 1912) McDonald C. De Baca Lindsey Larrazolo M. Mechem Hinkle Hannett Dillon Seligman Hockenhull Tingley Miles Dempsey Mabry E. Mechem Simms E. Mechem Burroughs E. Mechem Bolack Campbell Cargo King Apodaca King Anaya Carruthers King Johnson Richardson Martinez Lujan Grisham See also Mexican governors of New Mexico, Spanish governors of New Mexico

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Other SNAC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bruce King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_King) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_King?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.