Bruce King, at 85; served 3 terms as N.M. governor
SANTA FE - Bruce King, a folksy cattle rancher who served more time as governor than anyone else and became an institution in New Mexico politics, died yesterday. He was 85.
Attorney General Gary King announced his father’s death.
Mr. King was a Democrat who served three terms that spanned three decades. He was in office in 1971-74, 1979-82, and 1991-94.
Mr. King was with family members at his ranch in Stanley when he died yesterday morning. His death comes less than a year after the death of his wife of 61 years.
Mr. King had been ill and was recovering from a heart procedure to adjust the pacemaker that was implanted after he had a heart attack in 1997.
Governor Bill Richardson said Mr. King’s death “leaves a huge void in our state.’’
“Bruce King was an innovative, farsighted governor who knew the state better than any living New Mexican,’’ Richardson said. “He was as genuine and colorful as his cowboy boots. I can just hear him say ‘mighty fine’ as he shook another hand.’’
He also was known for his malapropisms, once telling a legislator that the lawmaker’s proposal could “open up a whole box of Pandoras.’’
Mr. King said he was proudest of his economic development accomplishments, particularly an
Mr. King said in 2005 that he resisted advice to storm the prison immediately. The slain inmates were killed in the early hours of the riot, and Mr. King said his concern was to keep alive a dozen prison workers taken hostage. None of the employees was killed.
The situation at the penitentiary before the riot was “kind of like the guy who was going to control the tea kettle by just putting Scotch tape and taping over the spout and lid,’’ he said.