Unlike his predecessor Henry Gage and his successor James Gillett , Pardee 's governorship has been generally well regarded amongst historians . His efforts of conservation and education have proved to be long standing , such as the creations of bodies that would later become UC Davis and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Despite their initial support of his nomination in 1902 , Pardee 's near-constant resistance to the Southern Pacific Railroad has spared his reputation of criticism for being too close to rail monoplies . State historians from the California Secretary of State 's office wrote that between Gage , Pardee and Gillett , " only Pardee can be considered an honest earnest administrator . " Environmental historian Philip L. Fradkin has cited Pardee as one of the unsung heroes of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . " Pardee lacked a glamorous frontline role , and he was criticized for not dashing in the flame-licked streets . With a large staff imported from Sacramento , the governor was the expediter of paper ; in every great disaster there needs to be at least one such competent bureaucrat . " Pardee was also the first governor to reside in the California Governor 's Mansion . The mansion would continue to be lived in by the state executive until the governorship of Ronald Reagan
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
George Pardee