Governor Garrey E. Carruthers

GARRY E. CARRUTHERS grew up in Aztec, New Mexico. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1964 and a master’s degree in agricultural economics in 1965 from New Mexico State University. After receiving a doctorate in economics in 1968 from Iowa State University, he returned to New Mexico State University to teach agricultural economics and agricultural business. He was a White House Fellow from 1974 to 1975; acting director of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute from 1975 to 1978; and a state chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico from 1977 to 1979. From 1981 to 1984, he served in two administrative positions at the U.S. Department of the Interior. He was elected governor in 1986 and served as chair of the Border Governors’ Commission and the Education Commission of the States.