Harold L. Runnels

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Harold L. Runnels

| image = Harold L. Runnels.jpg

| state1 = New Mexico

| district1 = 2nd

| term_start1 = January 3, 1971

| term_end1 = August 5, 1980

| predecessor1 = Ed Foreman

| successor1 = Joe Skeen

| office2= Member of the New Mexico State Senate

| term_start2=1960

| term_end2=1970

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|3|17|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, US

| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|8|5|1924|3|17}}

| death_place = New York City, US

| restingplace = Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Lovington, New Mexico, US

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Dorothy Runnels

| profession = Businessman

| branch = United States Army Air Forces Reserve

| serviceyears = December 1942 – July 1943

| rank = Private

| birthname = Harold Lowell Runnels

|}}

Harold Lowell Runnels (March 17, 1924 – August 5, 1980) was an American businessman and politician who served five terms as a U.S. Representative from New Mexico from 1971 to 1978.

Biography

Runnels attended Dallas public schools and Cameron State Agricultural College (now Cemeron University) in Lawton, Oklahoma.

= Early career =

He was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., in 1942. From 1945 to 1951, Runnels was a manager for the Magnolia Amusement Co. in Magnolia, Arkansas. He moved to Lovington, New Mexico, in 1951 and became a partner in Southland Supply Co., in 1952. In 1953 he formed Runnels Mud Co. and in 1964 RunCo Acidizing & Fracturing Co. In 1960, he was a founder of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

= State Senate =

He served as a member of the New Mexico Senate from 1960 to 1970, and as a delegate to New Mexico State Democratic conventions from 1960 to 1979.

= Congress =

Runnels was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-second and to the four succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1971, until his death.

= Death and burial =

He died in New York City on August 5, 1980, of respiratory failure while being treated for pleurisy and cancer.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19800805&id=8o4pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Nm4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3793,600931&hl=en |title=Rep. Harold Runnels, Six-Term Congressman |publisher=The Hour |date=August 5, 1980}} He was interred at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Lovington, New Mexico.

= Legacy =

[https://enmu.libguides.com/c.php?g=816238 The Harold Runnels Papers (1971-1980)] from his time in the U.S. Congress are held in the Special Collections of Eastern New Mexico University. Within the Golden Student Success Center is the Runnels Room, an art gallery name in Runnels' honor after a portion of his estate was bequeathed to the university].{{cite web | url=https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2013/10/23/publishfeatured-newsnews/gallery-is-local-art-staple/112584.html | title=Gallery is local art staple }}

= Family =

His son, Mike Runnels, served as Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987.

Electoral results

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1970 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2{{Cite web |title=1970 Election Results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1970election.pdf}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Harold L. Runnels

| votes = 64,518

| percentage = 51.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Ed Foreman (Incumbent)

| votes = 61,074

| percentage = 48.63

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 125,592

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

| loser = Republican Party (US)

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2{{Cite web |title=1972 Election Results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1972election.pdf}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent)

| votes = 116,152

| percentage = 72.17

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = George E. Presson

| votes = 44,784

| percentage = 27.83

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 160,936

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1974 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2{{Cite web |title=1974 Election Results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1974election.pdf}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent)

| votes = 90,127

| percentage = 66.74

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Donald W. Trubey

| votes = 43,045

| percentage = 31.88

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = American Independent Party

| candidate = Herbert Horton

| votes = 1,860

| percentage = 1.38

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 135,032

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1976 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2{{Cite web |title=1976 Election Results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent)

| votes = 123,563

| percentage = 70.33

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Donald W. Trubey

| votes = 52,131

| percentage = 29.67

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 175,694

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2{{Cite web |title=1978 Election Results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1978election.pdf}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent)

| votes = 95,710

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 95,710

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing