# Tom Bolack

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American politician (1918–1998)

Tom Bolack Associated Press Wire Photo, December 11, 1962 20th Governor of New Mexico In office November 30, 1962 – January 1, 1963 Lieutenant Vacant Preceded by Edwin L. Mechem Succeeded by Jack M. Campbell 18th Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico In office January 1, 1961 – November 30, 1962 Governor Edwin L. Mechem Preceded by Ed V. Mead Succeeded by Mack Easley Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives In office 1956–1958 Personal details Born Tom Felix Bolack (1918-05-18)May 18, 1918 Cowley County, Kansas, U.S. Died May 20, 1998(1998-05-20) (aged 80) Farmington, New Mexico, U.S. Party Republican Profession Oilman

**Thomas Felix Bolack** (May 18, 1918 – May 20, 1998) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 20th [governor of New Mexico](/source/Governor_of_New_Mexico) for 32 days in 1962–1963.

## Early life

On May 18, 1918, Bolack was born in [Cowley County, Kansas](/source/Cowley_County%2C_Kansas). Bolack grew up on a farm.[1][2]

## Career

Bolack was a self-educated [oilman](/source/Oilman) who learned [geology](/source/Geology) from correspondence courses.[3] He was also a rancher and owner of the [Albuquerque Dukes](/source/Albuquerque_Dukes) minor-league [baseball](/source/Baseball) team from 1956 to 1963.[4][5]

### Politics

He was Mayor of [Farmington, New Mexico](/source/Farmington%2C_New_Mexico) from 1952 to 1954 and a member of the [New Mexico House of Representatives](/source/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives) from 1956 to 1958.[6] In 1957 he unsuccessfully ran for election to the [U.S. House of Representatives](/source/U.S._House_of_Representatives), losing soundly to [Joseph Montoya](/source/Joseph_Montoya).

### Lieutenant Governor

In 1960, Bolack was elected [lieutenant governor](/source/Lieutenant_Governor_of_New_Mexico)[7] by a margin of 279 votes, becoming the first [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) lieutenant governor in New Mexico since 1928.[8] That Bolack, an "Anglo" (or New Mexican not of Spanish or Indian descent), was able to defeat a candidate with Spanish ancestry in statewide elections was seen as one of several signs of the decline of the influence of long-time United States Senator [Dennis Chavez](/source/Dennis_Chavez).[9] Democrats challenged the narrow victory, on the basis that some voters on [Navajo](/source/Navajo_Nation) reservations should have been required to vote outside of their reservations, but the [New Mexico Supreme Court](/source/New_Mexico_Supreme_Court) ruled in Bolack's favor.[10]

### Governor

Governor [Edwin L. Mechem](/source/Edwin_L._Mechem) was defeated in his bid for re-election and, when he resigned on November 30, 1962, Bolack became governor, serving the remainder of Mechem's term. Bolack, in his first act as governor, appointed Mechem to fill the vacancy in the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) caused by the recent death of Dennis Chavez. Bolack served as governor until newly elected Governor [Jack M. Campbell](/source/Jack_M._Campbell) was sworn in on January 1, 1963.[11]

In 1976, Bolack co-chaired a [bipartisan](/source/Bipartisanship) group that aimed to reform New Mexico's election legislation, after the state was included on a list of several states with unfair elections. In addition to lobbying for reform, the group offered $1,000 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of an election-law violator.[12]

## Personal life

Bolack's wife was Alice (née Schwerdtfeger) Bolack. They had three children.[1]

### Death

In 1985, Bolack suffered a [stroke](/source/Stroke) and had to use a wheelchair. On May 20, 1998, Bolack died in [Farmington, New Mexico](/source/Farmington%2C_New_Mexico). Bolack's body was [cremated](/source/Cremation) and his ashes were scattered over his Farmington ranch using 16 specially-made [fireworks](/source/Fireworks) on Fourth of July, 1999.[1][2][13]

### Legacy

Bolack's ranch is now the site of the Bolack Museum of Fish and Wildlife, which displays over 4,000 [stuffed animals](/source/Taxidermy) including many of rare species. Bolack, an accomplished [big-game hunter](/source/Big-game_hunter) and recipient of [Safari Club International](/source/Safari_Club_International)'s Fourth Pinnacle of Achievement Award,[14] shot most of the animals in the collection himself.[15]

The Tom Bolack Urban Forest Park in [Albuquerque](/source/Albuquerque%2C_New_Mexico) is named in his honor.[16]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nndb_bolack_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nndb_bolack_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nndb_bolack_1-2) ["Tom Bolack"](https://www.nndb.com/people/905/000122539/). nndb.com. Retrieved July 2, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-newmexicohistory_bolack_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-newmexicohistory_bolack_2-1) ["Tom Bolack: A Modern Johnny Appleseed"](http://newmexicohistory.org/people/tom-bolack-a-modern-johnny-appleseed). newmexicohistory.org. Retrieved July 2, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Interview of George L. McColm, Harry S. Truman Library, May 20–21, 1991](http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/mccolmgl.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Dukes Story"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201127003428/https://www.dukeswear.com/about). Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["ABQJOURNAL SPORTS: Bolack Saved City Baseball"](https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/21105533sports07-21-08.htm). *www.abqjournal.com*. Retrieved January 28, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [National Governors Association profile](http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=3125a7983c98a010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** State of New Mexico (July 2012). Kathryn A. Flynn (ed.). [*2012 Centennial Blue Book*](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103924/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Public_Records_And_Publications/NMCentennialBlueBook.pdf) (PDF). Diana J. Duran. Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. pp. 218–219. Archived from [the original](http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Public_Records_And_Publications/NMCentennialBlueBook.pdf) (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Frederick C. Irion, "The 1960 Election in New Mexico", Western Political Quarterly, March 1961

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "NEW MEXICO SEES A BLOW TO CHAVEZ; Defeat of Primary Entrants Backed by Senator Viewed as Sign of Voter Shift". *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*. May 22, 1960.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Irion, Frederick C. (June 1963). "The 1962 Election in New Mexico". *[The Western Political Quarterly](/source/The_Western_Political_Quarterly)*. **16** (2): 448–452. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/444959](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F444959). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [444959](https://www.jstor.org/stable/444959).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Pius Three", TIME magazine, Dec. 7, 1962](https://web.archive.org/web/20121021000335/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,829608,00.html?iid=chix-sphere)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** "New Mexicans Form Unit To Uphold Election Law". *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*. October 31, 1976.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Melzer, Richard (2007). [*Buried Treasures: Famous and Unusual Gravesites in New Mexico History*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UxiTZmoAAKgC&dq=tommy+bolack&pg=PA219). Sunstone Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-86534-531-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-86534-531-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928022754/http://www.safariclub.org/docs/pinnacleofacheivement.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.safariclub.org/docs/pinnacleofacheivement.pdf) (PDF) on September 28, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_archived_copy_as_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Joseph Skibell, "Eccentric Monuments and Monumental Eccentricities", New York Times Sophisticated Traveler, winter 1999"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060908093226/http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/faculty/sophtrav1.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/faculty/sophtrav1.html) on September 8, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Park Locations – City of Albuquerque](http://www.cabq.gov/gis/park.php?ZL=3&ANNO=true&PARKNAME=TOM%2BBOLACK%2BURBAN%2BFOREST)

## External links

- [B-Square Ranch](http://bolackmuseums.com)

Political offices Preceded by James B. Jones Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico 1961–1962 Succeeded by Mack Easley Preceded by Edwin L. Mechem Governor of New Mexico 1962–1963 Succeeded by Jack M. Campbell

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

v t e Lieutenant governors of New Mexico E. C. de Baca Lindsey Pankey Duckworth Baca Sargent Woodward Hockenhull L. C. de Baca Dow Murray Quintana Jones Montoya Chávez Montoya Mead Bolack Easley Francis Mondragón Ferguson Mondragón Runnels Stahl Luna Bradley Denish Sanchez Morales

Authority control databases VIAF GND

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