John D. Vanderhoof facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Vanderhoof
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From 1974's Annual Report of the Missouri River Basin Commission
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| 37th Governor of Colorado | |
| In office July 16, 1973 – January 14, 1975 |
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| Lieutenant | Ted Strickland |
| Preceded by | John Love |
| Succeeded by | Richard Lamm |
| 38th Lieutenant Governor of Colorado | |
| In office January 12, 1971 – July 16, 1973 |
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| Governor | John Love |
| Preceded by | Mark Hogan |
| Succeeded by | Ted Strickland |
| Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office January 4, 1967 – January 6, 1971 |
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| Preceded by | Allen Dines |
| Succeeded by | John Fuhr |
| In office January 2, 1963 – January 6, 1965 |
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| Preceded by | Albert J. Tomsic |
| Succeeded by | Allen Dines |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office 1950–1970 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
John David Vanderhoof
May 27, 1922 Rocky Ford, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | September 19, 2013 (aged 91) Glenwood Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Glendale Community College, California |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Unit | Naval Aviation |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
John David Vanderhoof (born May 27, 1922 – died September 19, 2013) was an American politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. Vanderhoof became the 37th Governor of Colorado in 1973. He took over from John Arthur Love, who left to work for President Richard Nixon. Vanderhoof finished Love's term, but he lost the election in 1974 to Richard Lamm.
Contents
Early Life and Public Service
John Vanderhoof was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He went to Glendale College in California. He graduated in 1942.
Serving in World War II
After college, Vanderhoof joined the Navy. He served during World War II as a fighter pilot. He flew over 100 missions. In 1945, his plane was shot down near the Philippines. His parachute did not work correctly, and he broke his leg.
For his brave service from 1943 to 1945, Vanderhoof received several awards. These included two Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and three Air Medals.
Life After the War
After the war, Vanderhoof worked in his family's sporting goods business. Later, he became a bank executive.
Entering Colorado Politics
In 1950, Vanderhoof was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. He served there for twenty years, until 1970. He led important committees, like the Game and Fish Committee. He also led the Business Affairs Committee.
Vanderhoof became the leader of the minority party in the House. He was also elected Speaker of the House three times. This is a very important leadership role.
In 1970, he made history. He became the first Lieutenant Governor elected under a new rule. This rule meant the Governor and Lieutenant Governor were elected together.
Running for Governor
In 1974, Vanderhoof wanted to be elected Governor on his own. He won the Republican primary election. He defeated Bill Daniels with more than 60% of the votes. However, he lost the main election to State Senator Richard Lamm.
The Missing Moon Rock
In 2010, a student named Richard Kevin Griffis was looking for a special item. He was trying to find the Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock from Colorado. This rock was given to Colorado by President Richard Nixon in the 1970s.
Griffis found out that the rock was missing. This led to John Vanderhoof admitting he had it. Vanderhoof had one of the two Moon rock displays given to Colorado. He willingly gave the rock back. At the time, it was thought to be worth $5 million. The Moon rock is now on display. You can see it at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum.
Later Life and Passing
John Vanderhoof passed away on September 19, 2013. He was 91 years old.
