Tom Bolack
Thomas Felix Bolack | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 May 1918 Cowley County, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | 20 May 1998 (aged 80) Farmington, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1952–1976 |
| Known for | 20th governor of New Mexico |
Thomas Felix Bolack (May 18, 1918 – May 20, 1998) was an American entrepreneur and political figure who briefly held the position of 20th governor of New Mexico for a period of 33 days, from November 30, 1962, until January 1, 1963.
Early life
Bolack was raised on a farm in Cowley County, Kansas.
Career
As a self-taught oilman, Bolack gained his geological expertise through distance learning courses. In addition to his work in the oil industry, he managed a ranch and was the proprietor of the Albuquerque Dukes minor-league baseball team between 1956 and 1963.
Politics
Bolack held the office of Mayor of Farmington, New Mexico from 1952 to 1954. Subsequently, he served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1956 to 1958. In 1957, he campaigned for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but was defeated by Joseph Montoya.
Lieutenant Governor
In the 1960 election, Bolack secured the position of lieutenant governor of New Mexico by a slim margin of 279 votes, marking the first time a Republican had occupied this role since 1928. His victory as an "Anglo" candidate over one with Spanish heritage indicated a reduction in the political power of longtime Senator Dennis Chavez. Although Democrats questioned the election outcome due to voting procedures on Navajo reservations, the New Mexico Supreme Court ultimately confirmed Bolack's win.
Governor
Following Governor Edwin L. Mechem’s defeat in his re-election bid and subsequent resignation on November 30, 1962, Bolack stepped into the governorship to complete the remaining term. One of his initial decisions was to appoint Mechem to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created by Dennis Chavez’s passing. Bolack remained governor until Jack M. Campbell assumed office on January 1, 1963.
In 1976, Bolack co-led a bipartisan coalition pushing for reforms in New Mexico’s election laws amid concerns about electoral fairness. This group actively campaigned for legislative changes and offered a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to arrests related to election law violations.
Personal life
Bolack was married to Alice (née Schwerdtfeger) Bolack, and together they had three children.
Death
After suffering a stroke in 1985 that left him confined to a wheelchair, Bolack passed away on May 20, 1998, in Farmington, New Mexico. His ashes were dispersed over his ranch in Farmington during a ceremony featuring sixteen specially designed fireworks on July 4, 1999.
Legacy
The Bolack Museum of Fish and Wildlife is now located on his former ranch and contains more than 4,000 taxidermied specimens, including numerous rare animals. An experienced big-game hunter, Bolack earned the Fourth Pinnacle of Achievement Award from Safari Club International and personally hunted most species displayed in the museum.
The Tom Bolack Urban Forest Park in Albuquerque commemorates his name.