John Burroughs (governor)

John Burroughs (April 7, 1907 – May 21, 1978) was an American politician, educator, and businessman who served as the 18th governor of New Mexico. Burroughs, a Democrat, served one-term and is remembered for honest government and introduction of the concept of a state Personnel Act to improve the quality of state workers and limit somewhat the effect of political patronage.[1]

For other people named John Burroughs, see John Burroughs (disambiguation).

John Burroughs
18th Governor of New Mexico
In office January 1, 1959 – January 1, 1961
Lieutenant	Ed V. Mead
Preceded by	Edwin L. Mechem
Succeeded by	Edwin L. Mechem
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
In office January 1, 1957 – January 1, 1959
Personal details
Born	(1907-04-07)April 7, 1907 Robert Lee, Texas
Died	May 21, 1978(1978-05-21) (aged 71) Portales, New Mexico
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Portales
Profession	Businessman

Early life and education

Burroughs was born in Robert Lee, Texas. He attended Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University), where he played on the football team and was a member of the Agg Club, Tech Chamber of Commerce, stock judging team, and student council.[2][3][4] He graduated in 1929 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry,[2][5] and later took graduate courses at Colorado State University.

Career

He obtained his teaching certificate and, after several years of teaching agriculture in the New Mexico cities of Los Lunas and Clovis,[5] went to work for an oil company located in the latter.[5] In 1942 he entered the food processing industry.[5] Eventually, he founded the "Cotton Oil Mill and Peanut Mill Company", which had branches in San Antonio, Texas, and Portales, New Mexico. His Texas plant made peanut butter.

A first time representative in the New Mexico legislature from Portales in 1957, Burroughs defeated incumbent Governor Edwin L. Mechem by less than one percent of the vote (103,481 to 101,567).[6]

As governor, Burroughs stressed financial responsibility and pressed state officials to recover funds due and owing to the state. He created the New Mexico Department of Development incorporating the Tourist Bureau, the Economic Development Commission, and New Mexico Magazine under one authority.[5] He was not re-elected. The next year he made a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor, but was stymied early in the process when his bid was quashed by the powerful Senator Clint Anderson.[7] He ran again for governor in 1966, receiving the Democratic pre-primary convention endorsement, but was soundly defeated in the Democratic primary by Gene Lusk.[8] Burroughs retired from politics, but still served on the New Mexico Finance Board under governors Bruce King and Jerry Apodaca.[5]

References

Specific

1. The New Mexico legislature did not pass the Personnel Act until January 1961 a month after Burroughs had left office. Garcia, F. Chris et al. (eds.) (2006) Governing New Mexico University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM, p. 101, ISBN 0-8263-4128-4
2. La Ventana (JPG). 1929. p. 146. Retrieved August 22, 2008.
3. La Ventana (JPG). 1929. p. 212. Retrieved August 22, 2008.
4. La Ventana (JPG). 1929. p. 284. Retrieved August 22, 2008.
5. Staff (May 22, 1978) "Ex-Gov. Burroughs dies; funeral services pending" The New Mexican p. 1
6. Irion, Frederick C. (March 1959) "The 1958 Election in New Mexico" The Western Political Quarterly 12(1)(pt.2): pp. 322–327, p. 325
7. Harrison, Will (1962) "Inside the Capital" Albuquerque Tribune January 12, 1962, p. D-9
8. Holmes, Jack E. (1967) Politics in New Mexico University of New Mexico Press , Albuquerque, NM, pp. 258–259, OCLC 1014145

General

• Sobel, Robert and Raimo. John (1978) "Burroughs, John (1907–)" Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789–1978 (Four vols.) Meckler Publishing, Westport, CT, ISBN 0-930466-00-4

External links

• "New Mexico Governor John Burroughs" National Governors Association

Party political offices
Preceded by John F. Simms	Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico 1958, 1960	Succeeded by Jack M. Campbell
Political offices
Preceded by Edwin L. Mechem	Governor of New Mexico 1959–1961	Succeeded by Edwin L. Mechem