Ricardo Jerome "Ricky" Bordallo (December 11, 1927 – January 31, 1990), U.S. Democratic Party politician, He served as Governor of Guam from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1987.

Early life

---

Ricardo Bordallo was born in Hagatna, Guam. He attended the University of San Francisco, before returning to Guam and becoming a successful businessman. Among other positions, he was the proprietor of "Ricky's Suburban Club," a refined restaurant and bar in Tamuning. He served in the territorial legislature from 1956 to 1970, and twice served as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Guam.

Criminal conviction

---

Despite the governor's popularity, he was convicted on ten counts of corruption and was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined more than $100,000, in February, 1987. His convictions on eight counts of bribery and extortion were overturned in August, 1988, leaving charges of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. On December 13, 1989, he was sentenced to four years in prison on the remaining charges.

Suicide

---

The former Governor committed suicide in Hagatna, Guam, hours before he was scheduled to report to a minimum-security federal prison in California, by wrapping himself in a Guam flag, chaining himself to a statue of Chief Kepuha (or Quipuha, Guam's first Roman Catholic chief) located on Marine Drive (the island's primary thoroughfare), and shooting himself in the head, all during rush hour traffic.

Madeleine Bordallo

---

His widow, Madeleine Bordallo was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1990, a successful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1994 and 1998, and in 2002 was elected to the island's non-voting delegate seat in the United States House of Representatives.

Honors

---

In 2005, the governor's complex in Hagatna was renamed in his honor.

Deaths by firearm | Governors of Guam | People from Guam | Politicians who committed suicide | Suicides by firearm | University of San Francisco alumni | 1927 births | 1990 deaths