Edwin L. Mechem

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Edwin Leard Mechem (2 July 1912 - 27 November 2002), Republican politician from New Mexico, three-term Governor of New Mexico 1951-1955, 1957-1959, and 1961-1962, United States Senator from New Mexico 1962 to 1964.

Born in Alamogordo, he attended Alamogordo and Las Cruces, NM schools. He attended New Mexico A & M (now New Mexico State University), 1930-31 and 1935. He worked as a land surveyor for the U.S. Reclamation Service in Las Cruces from 1932 to 1935. He transferred his college credits to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and graduated in 1939 in law. He was admitted to the New Mexico Bar the same year and practiced in Las Cruces and later Albuquerque. He was an FBI agent from 1942 to 1945 and a member of the New Mexico House of Delegates (Representatives), 1947-48.

A member of the Committee on Government Security, 1956-57, and a member of the American Law Institute, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate when long-time senator Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez died in November 1962. He served until November 1964 and resumed his law practice after an unsuccessful run for reelection. He was a member of the New Mexico Commission on Reorganization of the Executive Branch and a member of the New Mexico State Police Commission.

He voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, yet was made a Federal Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, serving from 1970 to 2002. He was related to another New Mexican Governor, Merritt C. Mechem who was his uncle. His father, Edwin Mechem, Sr. was a respected judge in Las Cruces.

Preceded by: Thomas J. Mabry

Governor of New Mexico 1951-1955

Succeeded by: John F. Simms

Preceded by: John F. Simms

Governor of New Mexico 1957-1959

Succeeded by: John Burroughs

Preceded by: John Burroughs

Governor of New Mexico 1961-1962

Succeeded by: Tom Bolack

Preceded by: Dennis Chavez

United States Senator (Class 1) from New Mexico 1962-1964

Succeeded by: Joseph Montoya

Governors of New Mexico

Territorial: Bent • Calhoun • Lane • Meriwether • Rencher • Connelly • Mitchell • Pile • Giddings • Axtell • Wallace • Sheldon • Ross • Prince • Thornton • Otero • Hagerman • Curry • Mills McDonald • Baca • Lindsey • Larrazolo • M. Mechem • Hinkle • Hannett • Dillon • Seligman • Hockenhull • Tingley • Miles • Dempsey • Mabry • E. Mechem • Simms • E. Mechem • Burroughs • E. Mechem • Bolack • Campbell • Cargo • King • Apodaca • King • Anaya • Carruthers • King • Johnson • Richardson