Apodaca, Jerry, 1934-

JERRY APODACA was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1934. After earning a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Mexico, he opened his own insurance business. In 1965, Apodaca was elected to the New Mexico state legislature, where he served four terms, from 1966 to 1974. He was elected governor in 1974, the first Hispanic governor in the U.S. since 1918. One of the priorities of his administration was reorganizing state government. In 1975 Apodaca created a cabinet system of government, with twelve major departments. During his tenure he also consolidated agencies and abolished several boards and commissions. Apodaca was appointed to a national level position by President Jimmy Carter, who named him Chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in 1978. After his term as governor, Apodaca became involved in publishing periodicals targeting Hispanic audiences. Apodaca served in the Marine reserves and was a founder of Vista Magazine, and the first publisher of Hispanic Magazine. He also served on the University of New Mexico Board of Regents, 1985 to 1991.

<p>Raymond S. "Jerry" Apodaca (born October 3, 1934) is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 24th governor of New Mexico from 1975 to 1979 and chair of the president’s council on physical fitness and sports from 1978 to 1980.</p>

<p>Apodaca graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1956 with a bachelor of science degree; he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Apodaca would later enter the insurance business.</p>

<p>In 1965, he was elected to the New Mexico Senate, in which he served for four two-year terms from 1966 to 1974. Apodaca was elected governor of New Mexico as a Democrat in 1974, becoming the first Hispanic governor in the U.S. since 1918, along with neighboring Arizona Governor Raúl Héctor Castro, who was also elected that year. Apodaca narrowly defeated his Republican opponent, Joe Skeen, later a long-term member of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico. In the campaign, Jimmy Carter, the outgoing governor of Georgia and future President of the United States, came to New Mexico to campaign for Apodaca.</p>