Governor John D. Vanderhoof

JOHN D. VANDERHOOF was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado, on May 27, 1922. He received an A.A. from Glendale College, California, in 1942. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy during World War II and received a Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1950 to 1970 (serving as speaker from 1963-64, and from 1967-70), and he was Lieutenant Governor from 1971-73. He succeeded to office of Governor in July, 1973, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Governor John A. Love. Vanderhoof faced immediate obstacles when the United States suffered from the 1973 oil crisis after members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo. In response, the governor ordered all state employees to carpool, drive under 50 miles per hour, and turn off all air conditioning and lights when not in use. Governor Vanderhoof also used this opportunity to advocate for the expansion of alternative energy. John D. Vanderhoof passed away on September 19, 2013 in Rifle, Colorado.