1929-2013
David F. Cargo of Albuquerque, NM passed away at age 84 on Friday, July 5, 2013. He was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, the eldest of three children born to Francis and Mary (Harton) Cargo. He earned his Bachelor’s degree, Master of Public Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan.
He served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and moved to New Mexico to practice law in 1957. He served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1963 to 1966 before being elected as the state’s youngest Governor at age 37 and served two terms between 1967-1971. As governor, Cargo “Lonesome Dave,” started the first state film commission in the United States which has brought millions of dollars in revenue to the state of New Mexico. Cargo established ties to Hollywood and was even asked to appear in several films. In 1969, he made a cameo appearance in a Western “The Good Guys and the Bad Guys,” and in 1971 appeared in “Bunny O’Hare” with Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine.
Cargo counted as accomplishments his creation of a Human Rights Commission and many libraries throughout the State of New Mexico.
Survivors include five children, Veronica, David, Patrick, Elena and Eamon; as well as his five grandchildren, Kevin, Jordan Patrick, Reese, Maddie, and Kieran. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald Cargo, and wife, Barbara, of Syracuse, NY. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Ida Jo Anaya, and brother, John Cargo.
Governor Cargo will lie in state in the Rotunda of the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe on Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will follow in the Rotunda at 4:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, July 12, 2013, 10:00 a.m., at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl., Santa Fe. He will be laid to rest in Santa Fe National Cemetery following Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Library Foundation, P.O. Box 30572, Albuquerque, NM 87109-0572 or “Friends of” your local library. Please visit our online guestbook for Governor Cargo at www.FrenchFunerals.com
FRENCH – Wyoming
7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE
(505) 823-9400
I enjoyed my long talks with the Governor. He had a real love for the Chama area and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, which he helped save!
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