Jack M. Campbell

Who was 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, Campbell served in the United States Marine Corps, moving on afterward to a legal career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, while at the same time, working as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In 1955, Campbell began his career in politics when he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he served until 1962, after having spent the last two years as Speaker.

In 1962, he was the Democratic nominee for governor and defeated incumbent Edwin L. Mechem 130,933 to 116,184. Two years later, in 1964, he became the first New Mexico governor in 12 years to win reelection.

In office, Campbell supported programs to aid the mentally ill, and appointed the first state science adviser. In 1963 he called for an overhaul in the New Mexico Constitution and convinced the legislature to create a Constitutional Revision Commission, which eventually led to the 1969 New Mexico Constitutional Convention.