BRUCE KING was born in Stanley, New Mexico, and attended the University of New Mexico after serving in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was elected to the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners in 1954 and served two terms, one as chair. In 1959 he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he served five consecutive terms, including three terms as speaker of the house. He was state Democratic chair 1968-1969. He also served as president of the State Consitutional Convention in 1969. He was first elected governor in 1970 and served 1971-1975, 1979-1983, and 1991-1995. He died in November 2009.