Larger-than-life former Governor King dead at 85

New Mexico's three-term cowboy governor, who became a larger- than-life political legend, is dead...  More »

New Mexico's three-term cowboy governor, who became a larger- than-life political legend, is dead at the age of 85. everybody thought they knew bruce king - even those who didn't - and that was one of the secrets to his success - he could become your friend with a handshake and a friendly word - to know him better i have to take you to a ranch near a tiny crossroads village in southern santa fe county - they call it stanley. " i was born on the ranch within two miles of where we are today - i spent my life here - i was speaker of the house and before that i was county commissioner in this county so i think i have as good a feel for new mexico as anybody." and his feel was physical - hand grabbing back slapping old style personal politics - a centrist democrat able to bring people together - republicans too. he served as governor in the 7o's - 80's - and 90's - twelve years in all - but he always came back to the ranch - always. " that's the way i relax - i don't play golf - i come back and see about the cattle and help my brothers harvest corn." bruce's wife alice was probably even more popular than he was - always his partner in politics and everything else - she died last december. " bruce king was honest - bruce king was a family man - he had great respect and love for his wife - he was lucky like me - he had a great wife - i have a great wife." " of course he was talking a lot about alice - and he said he expected to die before alice did and he said it really surprised him that he had outlived her." we spent time with bruce on his last day in the governor's office - new year's eve 1994 - catching a rare glimpse of the old cowboy in a philosophical mood. " we're gonna close shop here this afternoon - so i'm looking forward to going back to the ranch - it's like when you finish the harvest or you finish gathering the cattle and you ship all the cattle out." a lot of us are feeling like that tonight - so long bruce. bruce king -- almost certainly the last genuine cowboy we'll have as governor of new mexico - back to you. king's son gary -- who is new mexico's attorney general released this statement: "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."  « Less