John Burroughs (Governor)

John Burroughs (1961)

John Burroughs (born April 7, 1907 in Robert Lee , Coke County , Texas , †  May 21, 1978 in Portales , New Mexico ) was an American politician and governor of the state of New Mexico from 1959 to 1961 .

Early years

John Burroughs studied at Texas Technological College until 1929 . He then attended Colorado State University . In the years after his training, he worked as a teacher before he became a successful businessman. He became the owner of a company that produced peanut butter, among other things, and had branches in San Antonio, Texas and Portales.

Political career

Burroughs was a member of the Democratic Party . In 1957 he became a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives . On November 4, 1958, he was elected as the new governor with a wafer-thin margin over the Republican incumbent Edwin L. Mechem . During his two-year term, which began on January 1, 1959, he tried to collect the state's financial debts and to transfer the money to the state budget. Burroughs also promoted industrial development in New Mexico. Even so, it was not confirmed in 1960. Instead, his predecessor Mechem was re-elected governor.

Another résumé

After the end of his tenure, he twice unsuccessfully applied for the nomination of his party for a return to the office of governor. He then served on the New Mexico Finance Committee under Governors Bruce King and Jerry Apodaca . John Burroughs died in May 1978. He was married to Jean Mitchell, with whom he had four children.

Web links

• John Burroughs at the National Governors Association (English)
• John Burroughs in the database of Find a Grave (English)