16 Facts About Rondon Pacheco

Rondon Pacheco served as Chief of Staff of Brazil to President Artur da Costa e Silva, from 1967 to 1969 during the Brazilian military government.

In 1971, Pacheco was appointed Governor of his home state of Minas Gerais by President Emilio Garrastazu Medici.

Rondon Pacheco held the office of Governor from 1971 until 1975.

Rondon Pacheco was born in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, on 31 July 1919.

Rondon Pacheco studied law at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Rondon Pacheco credited a class speech he delivered at UFMG in 1943 with sparking his interest in politics.

In 1947, Rondon Pacheco was elected to the state Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais as a member of the National Democratic Union.

In 1973, the state government under Governor Rondon Pacheco signed an agreement with Fiat Automobiles to open an automotive plant in the city of Betim, near Belo Horizonte.

Rondon Pacheco endorsed the candidacy of PMDB presidential candidate, Tancredo Neves, in the 1985 election.

Rondon Pacheco left politics in 1986 after an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Federal Senate.

Rondon Pacheco had been hospitalized for pneumonia at a hospital in Rio de Janeiro from 9 June until 12 June 2016.

Rondon Pacheco was then transferred to a hospital in his hometown of Uberlandia from 12 June until he was discharged from that facility on 29 June 2016.

Rondon Pacheco died in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais on 4 July 2016, at the age of 96.

Rondon Pacheco was survived by his wife, Marina de Freitas Pacheco, and two daughters, Vera and Maria Vitoria.

Rondon Pacheco's funeral was held at the Palacio dos Leoes in Uberlandia, with burial in the cemiterio Sao Pedro.

Rondon Pacheco was the second former Governor of Minas Gerais to die in less than two months, following the death of Helio Garcia on 6 June 2016.