Manuel Luján Jr

A Representative from New Mexico; born on a small farm near the Indian Pueblo of San Ildefonso, N.Mex., May 12, 1928; attended grade school and junior high of Our Lady of Guadalupe; graduated from St. Michael’s High School, Sante Fe, N.Mex., 1946; attended St. Mary’s College, San Francisco, Calif.; B.A., College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, N.Mex., 1950; National Guard Reserve; former vice chairman, New Mexico Republican Party; engaged in his family’s insurance business; delegate, Republican National Convention, 1972, 1976, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-first and to the nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1969-January 3, 1989); was not a candidate for renomination to the One Hundred First Congress in 1988; Secretary of the Interior in the Cabinet of President George H. Bush, 1989-1993; is a resident of Albuquerque, N.Mex. José Manuel Luján Jr., one of nine children, was born on May 12, 1928, on a farm by the San Ildefonso Pueblo in Santa Fe County, N.M. His father was the founder of Manuel Luján Agencies, an insurance company, and was mayor of Santa Fe from 1942 to 1948. His mother, Lorenzita (Romero) Luján, was a teacher and served as Santa Fe County clerk. While in college, he married Jean Kay Couchman, who survives him. In addition to his granddaughter Amy Everett, he is also survived by two daughters, Terra Everett and Barbara Lujan; a son, Robert, who goes by Jeff; two brothers, Edward and George; a sister, Zenaida Padilla; four other grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Another son, Jay, died earlier.