Tom Berry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 14th Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 3, 1933 – January 5, 1937 | |
| Lieutenant | Hans Ustrud Robert Peterson |
| Preceded by | Warren Green |
| Succeeded by | Leslie Jensen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1879-04-23)April 23, 1879 |
| Died | October 30, 1951(1951-10-30) (aged 72) Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lorena McLain |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Rancher, Politician |
Thomas Matthew Berry (April 23, 1879 – October 30, 1951)[1] was the14th governor of South Dakota. Berry, aDemocrat fromBelvidere, South Dakota, served from 1933 to 1937. He is noted for defeating two incumbent Democratic United States senators in the state Democratic primary and then losing the seat to the Republicans in the general election.
Berry was born inPaddock, Holt County, Nebraska, and attended public school inO'Neill, Nebraska. He was married to Lorena McLain and they had four children.[2]
Berry moved to South Dakota in 1897. He homesteaded in Gregory County, moved to Todd County, and finally settled inMellette County south of Belvidere. He built up a 30,000 acre (120 km2) ranch raising Hereford cattle and saddle horses. Berry served in the House of Representatives of theSouth Dakota Legislature from 1925 to 1931, and was a member of the Custer State Park Board.
Elected governor twice, in 1932 and 1934,[3] Berry assisted in South Dakota's recovery from the Great Depression. As Governor, he acted as Federal Relief Administrator and helped secure federal aid. He called the legislature into special session to legalize 3.2 percent beer and again to enact unemployment insurance. During his tenure, state property tax was abolished, replaced by gross income tax which was replaced by a state sales tax.[4]
Berry ran for a third term in 1936 but was defeated byLeslie Jensen.[5] In1938, he defeated interim United States SenatorHerbert Hitchcock in the Democratic primary,[6] but lost the general election toChan Gurney.[7] In1942, Berry defeated incumbent United States SenatorWilliam J. Bulow in the Democratic primary[8] but lost the general election toHarlan J. Bushfield.[9] That defeat ended his political career.
From 1942 to 1947 he served as director of the Farm Credit Administration[10] inOmaha, Nebraska. In 1962, he was inducted intoHall of Great Westerners of theNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[11]
He retired toRapid City, South Dakota, where he lived until his death.[12]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by D. A. McCullough | Democratic nominee forGovernor of South Dakota 1932,1934,1936 | Succeeded by Oscar Fosheim |
| Preceded by C. J. Gunderson | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromSouth Dakota (Class 3) 1938 | Succeeded by George M. Bradshaw |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromSouth Dakota (Class 2) 1942 | Succeeded by John A. Engel |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of South Dakota 1933–1937 | Succeeded by |
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