Tom Bolack
Encyclopedia
Thomas Felix "Tom" Bolack (May 18, 1918 – May 20, 1998) was a New Mexico
businessman and politician, who served as the 20th Governor of New Mexico for 32 days in 1962-63.
Bolack was a self-educated oilman who learned geology
from correspondence courses. He was also a rancher and owner of the Albuquerque Dukes
minor-league baseball
team from 1956-63.
from 1952–54 and a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
from 1956-58. In 1957 he unsuccessfully ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, losing soundly to Joseph Montoya
.
In 1960, Bolack was elected lieutenant governor by a margin of 279 votes, becoming the first Republican
lieutenant governor in New Mexico since 1928. That Bolack, an "Anglo" (or New Mexican not of Spanish or Indian descent), was able to defeat a candidate with Spanish ancestry in state-wide elections was seen as one of several signs of the decline of the influence of long-time U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez
. Democrats challenged the narrow victory, on the basis that some voters on Navajo
reservations should have been required to vote outside of their reservations, but the New Mexico Supreme Court
ruled in Bolack's favor.
Governor Edwin L. Mechem
was defeated in his bid for re-election and, when he resigned on November 30, 1962, Bolack became Governor, serving the remainder of Mechem's term. Bolack, in his first act as Governor, appointed Mechem to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate
caused by the recent death of Dennis Chavez. Bolack served as Governor until newly-elected Governor Jack M. Campbell
was sworn in on January 1, 1963.
Bolack suffered a stroke
in 1985 and used a wheelchair until his death in 1998. In line with his last request, his body was cremated
and his ashes were scattered over his Farmington ranch using 16 specially-made fireworks
. The ranch is now the site of the Bolack Museum of Fish and Wildlife, which displays over 4,000 stuffed animals
including many of rare species. Bolack, an accomplished big-game hunter and recipient of Safari Club International
's Fourth Pinnacle of Achievement Award, shot most of the animals in the collection himself.
The Tom Bolack Urban Forest Park in Albuquerque
is named in his honor.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
businessman and politician, who served as the 20th Governor of New Mexico for 32 days in 1962-63.
Bolack was a self-educated oilman who learned geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
from correspondence courses. He was also a rancher and owner of the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
minor-league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team from 1956-63.
Political career
Bolack was Mayor of Farmington, New MexicoFarmington, New Mexico
Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S...
from 1952–54 and a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
New Mexico House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives is the lower house of the New Mexico State Legislature.There are 70 members of the House. Each member represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico.The Speaker of the House is Ben Luján .-Composition:...
from 1956-58. In 1957 he unsuccessfully ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, losing soundly to Joseph Montoya
Joseph Montoya
Joseph Manuel Montoya was a Democratic U.S. Senator for the State of New Mexico from 1964 until 1977.-Education:...
.
In 1960, Bolack was elected lieutenant governor by a margin of 279 votes, becoming the first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
lieutenant governor in New Mexico since 1928. That Bolack, an "Anglo" (or New Mexican not of Spanish or Indian descent), was able to defeat a candidate with Spanish ancestry in state-wide elections was seen as one of several signs of the decline of the influence of long-time U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez
Dennis Chavez
Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez was a Democratic politician from the U.S. State of New Mexico who served in the United States House of Representatives, and in the United States Senate from 1935 to 1962.-Early life:...
. Democrats challenged the narrow victory, on the basis that some voters on Navajo
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
reservations should have been required to vote outside of their reservations, but the New Mexico Supreme Court
New Mexico Supreme Court
The New Mexico Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution...
ruled in Bolack's favor.
Governor Edwin L. Mechem
Edwin L. Mechem
Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served as the 15th, 17th and 19th Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...
was defeated in his bid for re-election and, when he resigned on November 30, 1962, Bolack became Governor, serving the remainder of Mechem's term. Bolack, in his first act as Governor, appointed Mechem to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
caused by the recent death of Dennis Chavez. Bolack served as Governor until newly-elected Governor Jack M. Campbell
Jack M. Campbell
John "Jack" M. Campbell was the 21st Governor of New Mexico, from January 1, 1963 until January 1, 1967.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.During World War II,...
was sworn in on January 1, 1963.
Later life
In 1976, Bolack co-chaired a bipartisan group that aimed to reform New Mexico's election legislation, after the state was included on a list of several states with unfair elections. In addition to lobbying for reform, the group offered $1,000 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of an election-law violator.Bolack suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1985 and used a wheelchair until his death in 1998. In line with his last request, his body was cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
and his ashes were scattered over his Farmington ranch using 16 specially-made fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
. The ranch is now the site of the Bolack Museum of Fish and Wildlife, which displays over 4,000 stuffed animals
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
including many of rare species. Bolack, an accomplished big-game hunter and recipient of Safari Club International
Safari Club International
Safari Club International is an international organization composed of hunters. SCI has more than 50,000 members and 180 local chapters. SCI's website displays the bannertext "Safari Club International is the Leader in Protecting the Freedom to Hunt and Promoting Wildlife Conservation...
's Fourth Pinnacle of Achievement Award, shot most of the animals in the collection himself.
The Tom Bolack Urban Forest Park in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
is named in his honor.