Montoya, Joseph Manuel, 1915-1978

Joseph Manuel Montoya (September 24, 1915 – June 5, 1978) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party who served as the lieutenant governor of New Mexico (1947–1951 and 1955–1957), in the U.S. House of Representatives (1957–1964) and as a U.S. Senator from New Mexico (1964–1977).

Born in Peña Blanca, New Mexico, he received his early education in public schools in Sandoval County and graduated from Bernalillo High School before continuing his education at Regis College in Denver, Colorado, where he earned a B.A. and Georgetown University's Law Center, where he earned an LL.B. In 1936 at age 21, while Montoya was still at Georgetown, he became the youngest representative in the history of the state to be elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives. In 1938, Montoya graduated from law school and was re-elected. The following year, he was elected the Democratic majority floor leader. Montoya was elected to the New Mexico Senate in 1940, once again becoming the youngest member of that body ever elected. By the time he left the Senate in 1946, Montoya had been twice reelected to the State Senate and held the positions of majority whip and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. From 1947 to 1957 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico three times and also served two additional terms in the State Senate.

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