Colin McMillian

Bush Nominee McMillan's Death Apparent Suicide, Official Says

By Richard Benke
The Associated Press
    Oilman Colin McMillan, who was awaiting confirmation as Navy secretary, has died at his southern New Mexico ranch after suffering an apparent gunshot wound. He was 67.
    "All indications are it could be suicide, but we're not going to reach that conclusion until the investigation is over," District Attorney Scot Key of Alamogordo said Friday morning.
    McMillan died around lunch time Thursday and his body was found at his Three Rivers ranch in Otero County by two employees, said Roswell Mayor Bill Owen, a family spokesman and longtime McMillan employee.
    McMillan "had a recurrence of cancer," but "everybody thought he was recovered, recuperating quite well," Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said Friday on the Senate floor.
    The state Office of the Medical Investigator was conducting an autopsy Friday to determine a cause of death, said Tim Stepetic, OMI associate director.
    "We will all find out someday . . . how this all happened. But in the meantime all we can say is that we miss him terribly," Domenici said.
    The 55,000-acre Three Rivers is just south of the Lincoln County line near the Mescalero Apache reservation in Otero County.
    McMillan had run Permian Exploration Corp. in Roswell, had been chairman of Bush's New Mexico presidential campaign in 2000 and had been an assistant defense secretary under President Bush's father.
    Domenici said McMillan's death is "a very tough personal loss" of a friend of 35 years.
    McMillan "really looked forward to becoming secretary of the Navy," Domenici told fellow senators.
    "He succeeded in just about everything he tried in his life. He had a beautiful ranch . . . I've been there many times," Domenici said.
    Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said McMillan's death was a tragedy.
    "America has lost a leader, a patriot and statesman," Pearce said.
    President Bush had submitted McMillan's nomination to the Senate in May to fill a post left vacant since January, when Gordon England left to become deputy secretary of the new Homeland Security Department. Hansford T. Johnson has served as acting secretary since Feb. 7.
    When his appointment was announced in May, defense officials had said they were working on terms under which McMillan would dispose of any stock holdings that could conflict with his official duties.
    McMillan, besides managing the 2000 Bush campaign in New Mexico, had been state chairman for Bob Dole's presidential campaign in 1996.
    He also had run for U.S. Senate in 1994, losing to incumbent Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman in a bitter and costly campaign.
    "His death is a loss to us in New Mexico. It is a loss to the country," Bingaman said on the Senate floor. "He was well-respected for his straight dealing and his integrity."