Harold J. Powers; Former Lieutenant Governor

Harold J. “Butch” Powers, 96, a Modoc County rancher who served as lieutenant governor and was a state senator for 20 years. Born in Eagleville and educated at what became UC Davis, Powers was a familiar figure in Sacramento in his cowboy boots and hat. He owned working ranches in California, Nevada and Idaho. Powers became lieutenant governor in 1953 when Gov. Earl Warren was named U.S. chief justice and was succeeded as governor by Goodwin Knight. Winning election in 1954, Powers remained in office until 1958. He ran for governor in 1962 but bowed out, claiming that Republican Party leaders favored Richard Nixon. Powers later organized other dissident Republicans to oppose Nixon and support Democratic Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown. Reelected, Brown appointed Powers director of the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards. On Wednesday in Cedarville, Calif., of pneumonia.