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Ellis Y. Berry | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromSouth Dakota's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Francis Case |
| Succeeded by | James Abourezk |
| Member of theSouth Dakota Senate | |
| In office 1938–1942 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ellis Yarnal Berry (1902-10-06)October 6, 1902 Larchwood, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 1999(1999-04-01) (aged 96) Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | Bob Berry (reading clerk) |
| Alma mater | Morningside College University of South Dakota School of Law |
Ellis Yarnal Berry (October 6, 1902 – April 1, 1999) was an American attorney,newspaperpublisher and politician, who served in theUnited States House of Representatives fromSouth Dakota. He served ten consecutive terms in office from 1951 to 1971.
Berry was born on October 6, 1902, inLarchwood, Iowa, and graduated from Philip High School inPhilip, South Dakota.[citation needed]
He was a student atMorningside College from 1920 to 1922. He transferred to theUniversity of South Dakota, where he completed his undergraduate work and studied law, graduating with a law degree in 1927. He was admitted to the bar that same year underdiploma privilege.[citation needed]

Berry started his law practice inKennebec, South Dakota; two years later, he moved toMcLaughlin. He was elected as state's attorney, probate court judge forCorson County, and mayor of McLaughlin. He served as the publisher of the newspaperMclaughlin Messenger beginning in 1938. He was editor of theState Bar Association Journal from 1938 through 1950.[citation needed]
Berry was elected to theSouth Dakota State Senate from 1938 through 1942, a total of two terms.
In 1950, Berry was elected as aRepublican to theUnited States House of Representatives, and reelected nine consecutive times, retiring in 1971. Beginning in 1952, he also published theMcIntosh News andMorristown World.[citation needed]
In 1966, journalistDrew Pearson reported that Berry was one of a group of four Congressmen who had received the "Statesman of the Republic" award fromLiberty Lobby for their "right-wing activities".[1] Berry voted in favor of theCivil Rights Acts of 1957,[2]1960,[3] and1968,[4] and theVoting Rights Act of 1965,[5] but voted against theCivil Rights Act of 1964 and24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.[6][7]
After retiring from Congress, Berry he settled inRapid City, South Dakota. He lived there until his death on April 1, 1999, aged 96.[citation needed]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromSouth Dakota's 2nd congressional district 1951–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Oldest living United States representative (Sitting or former) May 8, 1998 – April 1, 1999 | Succeeded by |