Sacramento, CA Past Governors of California Governor Young signing a bill, 1927 Inauguration of James Rolph, Governor of California, 1931 Governor Culbert L. Olson, circa 1939

Peter Burnett
1849–1851
John McDougal
1851–1852
John Bigler
1852–1856
J. Neely Johnson
1856–1858
John Weller
1858–1860
Milton Latham
1860–1860
John Downey
1860–1862
Leland Stanford
1862–1863
Frederick Low
1863–1867
Henry Haight
1867–1871
Newton Booth
1871–1875
Romualdo Pacheco
1875–1875
William Irwin
1875–1880
George Perkins
1880–1883
George Stoneman
1883–1887
Washington Bartlett
1887–1887
Robert Waterman
1887–1891
Henry Harrison Markham
1891–1895
James Budd
1895–1899
Henry Gage
1899–1903
George Pardee
1903–1907
James Gillett
1907–1911
Hiram Johnson
1911–1917
William Stephens
1917–1923
Friend Richardson
1923–1927
C.C. Young
1927–1931
James Rolph
1931–1934
Frank Merriam
1934–1939
Culbert Olson
1939–1943
Earl Warren
1943–1953
Goodwin Knight
1953–1959
Edmund G. "Pat" Brown
1959–1967
Ronald Reagan
1967–1975
Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown
1975–1983
George Deukmejian
1983–1991
Pete Wilson
1991–1999
Gray Davis
1999–2003
Arnold Schwarzenegger
2003–2011
Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown
2011–2019
Gavin Newsom
2019–Present

George Deukmejian

1983–1991

Significant Facts

Born: June 6, 1928 in Menands, New York
Died: May 8, 2018 in Long Beach, California
Married: Gloria M. Saatjian on February 16, 1957
Political Party: Republican

Family

Father: George Deukmejian
Mother: Alice Gairden
Wife: Gloria M. Saatjian
Children: Leslie, Andrea, George

Find out more about the time period and interests of George Deukmejian

A Brief History of the 1987 Stock Market Crash (PDF)
Loma Prieta Earthquake
Los Angeles 1984 Olympics

Did You Know?

George was nick-named Corky as a child
When he was asked why he ran for the office of Governor, Deukmejian replied, "Attorneys General don't appoint judges—Governors do"

Biography

As a young boy, George Deukmejian was considered polite, good natured and studious. He worked through high school wrapping meat and making coat hangers. He attended Siena College where he majored in sociology, managed the college’s baseball team, and picked up the nickname “Duke.” He went on to earn his law degree at St. John's University. Soon after completing law school, he was drafted to serve in the US Army, where he was assigned legal duty in Paris.

At the end of his tour of duty, Deukmejian returned to the US and established a law practice in Southern California. He was also very active in a number of community organizations including the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, and Lion’s Club. In 1962, Deukmejian was elected to the Assembly in which he served until 1967. He served as a State Senator for Los Angeles from 1967 to 1979 and as State Attorney General from 1979 to 1983. Deukmejian was elected Governor in 1983 and served two terms. His accomplishments included promoting sound economic policies that led to the creation of more than 2.8 million new jobs; making education a priority for the state; and creating a workfare program.

After serving as Governor, Deukmejian remained active in the community by serving on special commissions. In May 2008, he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from California State University, Long Beach for his political and civic endeavors.

Budgets

Governor's Budget 1983/1984
Governor's Budget 1984/1985
Governor's Budget 1985/1986
Governor's Budget 1986/1987
Governor's Budget 1987/1988
Governor's Budget 1988/1989
Governor's Budget 1989/1990
Governor's Budget 1990/1991

Speeches

Inaugural Address delivered on January 3, 1983
Inaugural Address delivered on January 5, 1987
State of the State Address delivered on January 10, 1983
State of the State Address delivered on January 10, 1984
State of the State Address delivered on January 8, 1985
State of the State Address delivered on January 9, 1986
State of the State Address delivered on January 7, 1987
State of the State Address delivered on January 6, 1988
State of the State Address delivered on January 9, 1989
State of the State Address delivered on January 9, 1990

Bibliography

Books and Articles

Hagobian. "Former California Governor George Deukmejian Honored in Los Angeles," The Armenian Reporter, December 22, 2007
Skelton "A Cautious Man Counters a Dull Image," Los Angeles Times, October 18, 1982
Schaechtele. The Governors of California and their Portraits, California State Capitol Museum Volunteer Association, 1995

Websites

National Governors Association

Executive Orders and Proclamations

Use the California State Library’s interactive tool to view Executive Orders and Proclamations signed by Governor Deukmejian.

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