Jack M. Campbell

John "Jack" M. Campbell (September 10, 1916 – June 14, 1999) was the 21st Governor of New Mexico, from January 1, 1963 until January 1, 1967.^[1][2]

Campbell was born in Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, and educated at Washburn University, where he received an undergraduate degree in 1938 and an LL.B degree in 1940.^[2]

During World War II, Campbell served in the United States Marine Corps, moving on afterward to a legal career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, while at the same time, working as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.^[2]

In 1955, Campbell began his career in politics when he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he served until 1962, after having spent the last two years as Speaker.

In 1962, he was the Democratic nominee for governor and defeated incumbent Edwin L. Mechem 130,933 to 116,184. Two years later, in 1964, he became the first New Mexico governor in 12 years to win reelection.

In office, Campbell supported programs to aid the mentally ill, and appointed the first state science adviser. In 1963 he called for an overhaul in the New Mexico Constitution and convinced the legislature to create a Constitutional Revision Commission, which eventually led to the 1969 New Mexico Constitutional Convention.^[3]

After leaving office, he served on the Federal Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and was president of the Federation of Rocky Mountain States, an educational foundation.

As an avid fisherman, Campbell holds the New Mexico record for Brown Trout. He died in Santa Fe in 1999.

References

1. ↑ "Jack M. Campbell". NNDB. Retrieved 2008-02-14. 
2. 1 2 3 "New Mexico Governor Jack M. Campbell". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2008-02-14. 
3. ↑ Garcia, F. Chris; Hain, Paul L.; St. Clair, Gilbert K. And Seckler, Kim (editors) (2006) Governing New Mexico University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, pages 32-33, ISBN 978-0-8263-4128-0

External links

• National Governors Association profile
• New York Times obituary, June 18, 1999
• Meeting with President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office, May 23, 1963: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-AR7936-A.aspx

Governors of New Mexico
U.S. Military Admin (1846–51)	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 Martínez
See also Mexican governors of New Mexico, Spanish governors of New Mexico