Edward J. King (born May 11, 1925) was the Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983. Born in 1925 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bills from 1948 to 1949 and the Baltimore Colts in 1950. Prior to winning election as Governor, his only elected office, he served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Port Authority and President of the New England Business Council.
In 1978, King defeated incumbent Governor Michael Dukakis in the Democratic primary, and served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983. He was defeated for re-election in a 1982 rematch with Dukakis. During his term of office, Governor King froze property taxes, reduced state spending on social programs, undertook a variety of efforts to encourage increased business and agricultural opportunities in the Commonwealth, and took a tough stand on crime by introducing mandatory minimum sentences and passing legislation to reintroduce the death penalty in Massachusetts, a measure which was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. President Ronald Reagan called King his "favorite Democratic governor" and King endorsed Reagan in the 1984 Presidential election.
Following his term of office, Governor King joined the public relations firm of Hill & Knowlton. He currently maintains residences in both Massachusetts and Florida.
Preceded by Michael Dukakis Governor of Massachusetts (1979-1983) Succeeded by Michael Dukakis
Governors of Massachusetts Colony Endicott • Winthrop • T. Dudley • Haynes • Vane • Winthrop • T. Dudley • Bellingham • Winthrop • Endicott • T. Dudley • Winthrop • Endicott • T. Dudley • Endicott • Bellingham • Endicott • Bellingham • Leverett • Bradstreet
Dominion J. Dudley • Andros • Bradstreet
Province W. Phips • Stoughton • Coote • Stoughton • Governor's Council • J. Dudley • Tailer • Shute • Dummer • Burnet • Dummer • Tailer • Belcher • Shirley • S. Phips • Shirley • S. Phips • Pownall • Hutchinson • Bernard • Hutchinson • Gage
Commonwealth Hancock • Cushing • Bowdoin • Hancock • Adams • Sumner • Gill • Governor's Council • Strong • Sullivan • Lincoln, Sr. • Gore • Gerry • Strong • Brooks • Eustis • Morton • Lincoln, Jr. • Davis • Armstrong • Everett • Morton • Davis • Morton • Briggs • Boutwell • Clifford • Washburn • Gardner • Banks • Andrew •
