Bruce King, left, is shown here in Las Cruces in 2008 with U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Former Gov. Bruce King – often called the “cowboy governor” – died this morning. He was 85.
“Bruce King would be the first one to tell us all that death is just another phase in the cycle of life and that we must go on with our lives, trying to do the best we can while helping others make their way too,” said his son, Attorney General Gary King, in a prepared statement.
“None of us in the family thought this day would come so soon after we lost my mom, Alice King, but we are comforted by the thought that Bruce and Alice can be together once again,” Gary King said.
Alice King died in December.
Bruce King, a Democrat, served three, non-consecutive terms as governor — from 1971 to 1975, 1979 to 1983, and 1991 to 1995. He was with family at his ranch in Stanley when he died.
His family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the New Mexico Children’s Foundation, which Alice King founded.
State Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, said she was saddened to learn of Bruce King’s death. Her late husband and the former governor were close friends.
“He was called the cowboy governor, and there’s something to the honesty, and the straightforwardness, and the friendliness that the cowboy brings,” Papen said. “I think he epitomized that.”
King was born in 1924 in Stanley. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He got his start in politics in 1954, serving two terms as a county commissioner in Santa Fe.
In 1959, he won a state House seat. He served five terms as a state representative – three of them as House speaker.
King also served as chairman of the state Democratic Party.
“Bruce King will always be one of our greatest New Mexicans,” U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said in a news release. “Governor King was so kind, and he served the state in so many ways. He will truly be missed.”
In addition to his son Gary, King is survived by another son, Bill; his brothers, Sam and Don; and other family members.
Update, 9:45 a.m.
Here’s an undated photo of Bruce and Alice King released by Gary King’s office:
Update, 9:55 a.m.
“Governor King’s service has been widely credited as a driving force of modernization within the State of New Mexico, and his legacy of service to the Democratic Party is only overshadowed by his love of New Mexico and his service to its citizens,” current state Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales said. “Whether Democrat, Republican or independent, today is a day of mourning for all New Mexicans. We remember Governor King and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”
Update, 10 a.m.
Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered that flags be flows at half staff “until further notice.”
“Governor Bruce King’s death leaves a huge void in our state,” Richardson said in a release. “Bruce King was an innovative, far-sighted governor who knew the state better than any living New Mexican. He was as genuine and colorful as his cowboy boots. I can just hear him say, ‘Mighty fine,’ as he shook another hand.”
Update, 11:15 a.m.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said King “was as dedicated and successful a public servant as New Mexico has ever seen.”
“I first got to know him when he was president of New Mexico’s constitutional convention, and I was assigned by the New Mexico attorney general’s office to work with him,” Bingaman said. “My respect for him was firmly established at that time and only grew in subsequent years, particularly during the time of his second term as governor when I was serving as attorney general. Anne and I became close friends with Bruce and Alice and remained so for decades.
“Bruce was a public servant whose integrity was never questioned and who always did the right thing for New Mexico,” he said. “As a result of his love for our state and the people who live here, he was great friends with many thousands of New Mexicans, and he will be missed by all of us.”
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., said this:
“Last night we lost a great man and a true champion for the people of New Mexico. Governor Bruce King and his wife Alice served our state honorable and proudly. Governor King was a true asset to the state and a role model for many.
“Governor King was a governor of the people. He was always approachable, and he always reached out to the people of New Mexico with an open hand. Throughout his entire tenure in public service he remembered his roots and the people he served. He was a dear friend of my family and someone I deeply admired.”
Update, 12 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said King “was a gentle political giant with a heart of gold.”
“With Alice by his side, he dedicated his entire life to serving New Mexico, and together they instilled the same values in their children,” Udall said. “I will always remember Bruce as true cowboy from Stanley who had the most generous spirit and always saw the best in people. In every level of government that he served New Mexico over several decades, Bruce King accomplished many great things.”
“I personally learned a lot from his work and was happy to have him by my side once again at a backyard barbeque in Moriarty just last year,” Udall said. “Jill and I could always count on Bruce and Alice’s friendship, and their entire family is in our thoughts and prayers.”
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said this:
“Bruce King is and always will be a New Mexico icon, a man larger than life whose spirit cannot be measured. He was a family friend, my teacher, my mentor and most truly New Mexico’s cowboy in the Roundhouse. He was my father’s friend, and our families shared many years and memories together in public service.
“Bruce was one of those people whose presence changed a room. As soon as he walked in, his spirit seemed to expand until the room was filled with it, and everywhere you looked, you saw that glittering smile, and a hand held out in friendship, and the greeting that countless New Mexicans have heard coming from him: “How ya doin?’” And the thing of it is that he meant it.
“As I say goodbye to our cowboy in the Roundhouse, Governor Bruce King, I will always remember his example, his legacy and his warmth.”
Update, 12:05 p.m.
Click here to see some photos NMPolitics.net’s Peter St. Cyr took of Bruce King in August.
Update, 12:50 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M., said this:
“Governor King’s service to our nation and our state should never be forgotten. As a county commissioner, speaker of the House and as governor, he was one of those unique public officials who never forgot where he came from. He listened sincerely to the needs and concerns of his constituents and then got to work addressing those issues because he cared deeply about his home state of New Mexico.
“One thing I learned from Bruce King was how important it is to stay in touch with the people you represent. In fact, I first met the governor in the steer barn at the Lea County Fair. And over the years, it seemed that you would run across the governor shaking hands at nearly every Fair in New Mexico.
“Bruce King took so many of the wishes of the people from our state and made them a reality. His contributions to our state will last for decades to come. My thoughts and prayers are with the King family today.”