Apodaca, Jerry, 1934-

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.

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. 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. As Governor, Apodaca reorganized the New Mexico state government to create a cabinet system with twelve departments. He consolidated agencies and abolished several boards and commissions. Apodaca's reorganization plan was passed by the legislature in March 1977, but it did not go into effect officially until April 1978.

In 1978, President Carter appointed Apodaca, who was constitutionally ineligible to seek reelection as governor, as the chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness. After his term as governor, Apodaca became involved in publishing Hispanic-audience periodicals. In 1982, he attempted to run for the United States Senate for the seat held by then-incumbent Harrison Schmitt, a Republican and former astronaut. However, he missed his chance in the Democratic primary when then-Attorney General Jeff Bingaman defeated him soundly 51%-39%. In 1998, another attempt at political redemption ended up with harsher results, with Apodaca receiving a disappointing 10% in the Democratic primary for governor. He served on the University of New Mexico Board of Regents, 1985 to 1991.