Jerry Apodaca obituary

Jerry Apodaca, the first Hispanic governor in New Mexico’s modern history and a fighter for education reform, died Wednesday, On April 26, 2023. He was 88.

Apodaca, a Democrat and former state legislator, served as governor from 1975-79 and as chair of then-President Jimmy Carter’s council on physical fitness.

Jeff Apodaca, one of Jerry’s sons, said his father cared deeply about public service and erasing barriers that kept women, Latinos and other minorities out of leadership positions.

The elder Apodaca, he said, was often the only Latino in the room as he served on corporate boards after his stint as governor.

“My dad’s legacy wasn’t just serving four years,” Jeff Apodaca said. “He spent 20 years after that opening doors in corporate America.”

But Jerry Apodaca’s election as governor made history in its own right. Non-Hispanic white men had dominated the office for decades.

After years of declining health, Apodaca died in Santa Fe, New Mexico.