A brief look at key moments in former Gov. Bruce King's life:

April 6, 1924: King was born in Stanley to Will and Molly King.

1942: Graduated from Moriarty High School.

1947: Married Alice Martin at the Moriarty Baptist Church.

1954: Elected to the Santa Fe County Commission.

1963 to 1968: Served as speaker in state House of Representatives.

1968 to 1969: Served as chairman of the state Democratic Party.

1968: Ran for governor in the Democratic primary, defeated by Fabian Chavez.

1969: Elected president of the state Constitutional Convention.

1970: Elected governor, defeating Pete Domenici. Served 1971 to 1974.

1978: Elected governor, defeating Joe Skeen. Served from 1979 to 1982.

1980: Oversaw the state's response to the riot at the state penitentiary, where 33 inmates died in what some said was the result of years of problems at the crowded prison.

1982: The state's Children, Youth and Families Department is created, something both Alice and Bruce King said was among their biggest accomplishments in office.

1990: Elected governor, defeating former state Rep. Frank Bond. Served from 1991 to 1995.

1994: Ran again for governor, losing to Gary Johnson.

1997: Suffered heart attack.

1998: Broke his right hip.

2007: Broke his left hip.

December 2008: Alice King died at 78.

Friday morning: Bruce King died at his ranch home near Stanley. He was 85.