Harold L. Runnels

Harold Lowell Runnels ( born March 17, 1924 in Dallas, Texas; † August 5, 1980 in New York City ) was an American politician. Between 1971 and 1980 he represented the second electoral district of the state of New Mexico in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early years and career

Harold Runnels attended the public schools in Dallas and then the Cameron State Agricultural College in Lawton (Oklahoma). In 1942, he worked for some time for the FBI. After that, he was a reservist of the Air Corps of the U.S. Army. Between 1945 and 1951 led Runnels Magnolia Amusement Company in Magnolia ( Arkansas). In 1951 he moved to Lovington, New Mexico, where he was a partner in Southland Supply. In 1953 he founded his own company ( Runnels Mud Co). Another of him, founded in 1964, the company was the Runco Acidizing & Fracturing Co. In 1960, Runnels was also one of the founders of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

Political career

Runnels was a member of the Democratic Party. From 1960 to 1970 he was a member of the Senate of New Mexico. He was 1960-1979 delegate to almost every party days of the Democrats in New Mexico. 1970 Harold Runnels was elected in the second district of New Mexico in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he replaced Ed Foreman on January 3, 1971. After several re- elections he was his mandate to exercise until his death in August 1980. The married Dorothy Runnels politician was buried in Lovington. His congressional seat went to a by-election to Joe Skeen.