John D. Vanderhoof

John David Vanderhoof (May 27, 1922 – September 19, 2013) served as the 37th Governor of Colorado from 1973-1975 as a Republican. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Colorado under John Arthur Love from 1971 until 1973 when Love was appointed to the National Energy Policy Office by President Richard Nixon.

Early life and career

Born in Rocky Ford, Colorado, Vanderhoof worked in the family sporting goods business and was a banker and served in Naval Aviation during World War II, and received two Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. Vanderhoof was elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives in 1950, and served twenty years until 1970. He was a former chairman of the Game and Fish Committee and Business Affairs Committee of the House. Minority floor leader during the 43rd General Assembly and elected Speaker of the House for the 44th, 46th, and 47th General Assemblies. Vanderhoof graduated from Glendale College in California in 1942 and was the first lieutenant governor elected under a new constitutional provision calling for the joint election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.^[1]

Colorado Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock

In 2010, Richard Kevin Griffis, a graduate student at the University of Phoenix was assigned the task of tracking down the Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock by his Professor Joseph Gutheinz. He discovered that the Colorado Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock was missing, which led to the admission by Vanderhoof that he had possession of one of two Colorado moon rock displays that was presented to the state of Colorado by President Richard Nixon in 1970s. Vanderhoof voluntarily surrendered the rock, which at the time was estimated to be worth $5 million.^[2] The rock was subsequently put on display at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum.^[3]

Death

He died on September 19, 2013, aged 91, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.^[4][5]

References

• Colorado State Archives

v t e Governors of Colorado Territorial (1861–1876) Gilpin Evans Cummings Hunt McCook Elbert McCook Routt State (since 1876) Routt Pitkin Grant Eaton A. Adams Cooper Routt Waite McIntire A. Adams Thomas Orman Peabody A. Adams McDonald Buchtel Shafroth E. Ammons Carlson Gunter Shoup Sweet Morley W. Adams E. Johnson Talbot T. Ammons Carr Vivian Knous W. Johnson Thornton E. Johnson McNichols Love Vanderhoof Lamm Romer Owens Ritter Hickenlooper