# Fabian Chavez Jr.

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American politician

Fabian Chavez Personal details Born (1924-08-31)August 31, 1924 Wagon Mound, New Mexico, U.S. Died January 20, 2013(2013-01-20) (aged 88) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. Party Democratic Spouse Coral Rustenbach ​ ​ (m. 1952⁠–⁠2006)​ Children 1 Education Santa Fe University (attended) University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (BA)

**Fabian Chavez Jr.** (August 31, 1924 – January 20, 2013) was an American politician in the state of [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) and Majority Leader of the [New Mexico Senate](/source/New_Mexico_Senate).

## Biography

Chavez was born in 1924 in [Wagon Mound, New Mexico](/source/Wagon_Mound%2C_New_Mexico), one of 10 children. He graduated from [Santa Fe High School](/source/Santa_Fe_High_School_(New_Mexico)) and served in [World War II](/source/World_War_II). Chavez later attended [St. Michael's College](/source/Santa_Fe_University_of_Art_and_Design) and the [University of New Mexico](/source/University_of_New_Mexico).[1][2][3] Chavez was elected as a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) to the [New Mexico House of Representatives](/source/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives) in 1950 and to the [New Mexico Senate](/source/New_Mexico_Senate) in 1956, becoming Majority Leader in 1961 and serving until 1965.[4]

Chavez was the Democratic nominee for [Governor of New Mexico](/source/Governor_of_New_Mexico) in the [1968 election](/source/New_Mexico_gubernatorial_election%2C_1968), losing to incumbent [David Cargo](/source/David_Cargo) by 3,000 votes.[5] He also mounted unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Congress in 1964 and 1970 and Governor in [1982](/source/New_Mexico_gubernatorial_election%2C_1982).[6] After his defeat, he served as New Mexico Director of Tourism from 1971–75 and Director of Development from 1975–77.[3] Chavez served as United States Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism under President [Jimmy Carter](/source/Jimmy_Carter).[7]

Chavez died on January 20, 2013, at the age of 88, after a short illness.[2]

## Personal life

Chavez and his wife, Coral Jeanne Rustenbach, were married 54 years before her death in 2006.[3] They had one child, Christine J. Chavez Barrett, two grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Roybal2008_1-0)** David Roybal (2008). [*Taking on Giants: Fabián Chávez, Jr. and New Mexico Politics*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qSfBTe6GWLgC&pg=PR9). UNM Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8263-4436-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8263-4436-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-legacy_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-legacy_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-legacy_2-2) ["Fabian Chavez Obituary"](http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/santafenewmexican/obituary.aspx?pid=162596293). *[The Santa Fe New Mexican](/source/The_Santa_Fe_New_Mexican)*. Retrieved December 17, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McCord2009_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McCord2009_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-McCord2009_3-2) Richard McCord (2009). [*Santa Fe Living Treasures: Our Elders, Our Hearts*](https://books.google.com/books?id=7cM-bMFblxAC&pg=PA56). Sunstone Press. p. 56. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-86534-720-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-86534-720-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Senate Mourns Passing of Fabian Chavez, Jr"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220175741/http://www.nmsenate.com/2013/01/21/senate-mourns-passing-of-fabian-chavez-jr/). [New Mexico Senate](/source/New_Mexico_Senate). January 21, 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.nmsenate.com/2013/01/21/senate-mourns-passing-of-fabian-chavez-jr/) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Terrell, Steve (January 20, 2013). ["R.I.P. Fabian Chavez"](http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2013/01/rip-fabian-chavez.html?spref=fb). Roundhouse Roundup. Retrieved December 17, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Chavez, Jr., Fabian"](http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=13839). Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 17, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Department of Commerce Nomination of Fabian Chavez, \]r., To Be an Assistant Secretary"](http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=7353). American Presidency Project. April 14, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2016.

Party political offices Preceded by Gene Lusk Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico 1968 Succeeded by Bruce King

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