Tom Berry
Encyclopedia
For the professional baseball player, see Tom Berry (baseball)
Thomas Matthew Berry (April 23, 1879 – October 30, 1951) was the fourteenth Governor
of South Dakota
. Berry, a Democrat from Belvidere, 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.
He was born in Paddock, Nebraska, and came to South Dakota in 1897. He lived in several locations and finally settled in Mellette County
south of Belvidere. He built up a 30,000 acre (120 km²) ranch raising Hereford cattle and saddle horses.
He served in the House of Representatives of the South Dakota Legislature
from 1925-1931. He was elected governor twice, in 1932 and 1934. He ran for a third term in 1936 but was defeated by Leslie Jensen
. In 1938, he defeated interim United States Senator Herbert Hitchcock in the Democratic primary, but lost the general election to Chan Gurney. In 1942 Berry defeated incumbent United States Senator William J. Bulow
in the Democratic primary but lost the general election to Harlan J. Bushfield
. That defeat ended his political career.
For several years, he served as director of the Farm Credit Administration in Omaha, Nebraska
. He retired to Rapid City, South Dakota
, where he lived until his death.
Tom Berry (baseball)
Thomas Haney Berry was a professional baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in one game during the 1871 season. He had one hit in four at-bats in that game.-Sources:...
Thomas Matthew Berry (April 23, 1879 – October 30, 1951) was the fourteenth Governor
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. Berry, a Democrat from Belvidere, South Dakota
Belvidere, South Dakota
Belvidere is a city in Jackson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 49 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Belvidere is located at ....
, 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.
He was born in Paddock, Nebraska, and came to South Dakota in 1897. He lived in several locations and finally settled in Mellette County
Mellette County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,083 people, 694 households, and 498 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 824 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
south of Belvidere. He built up a 30,000 acre (120 km²) ranch raising Hereford cattle and saddle horses.
He served in the House of Representatives of the South Dakota Legislature
South Dakota Legislature
The South Dakota State Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the South Dakota Senate, which has 35 members, and the South Dakota House of Representatives, which has 70 members...
from 1925-1931. He was elected governor twice, in 1932 and 1934. He ran for a third term in 1936 but was defeated by Leslie Jensen
Leslie Jensen
Leslie Jensen was an American politician. He served as the 15th Governor of South Dakota.-Background:...
. In 1938, he defeated interim United States Senator Herbert Hitchcock in the Democratic primary, but lost the general election to Chan Gurney. In 1942 Berry defeated incumbent United States Senator William J. Bulow
William J. Bulow
William John Bulow was an American politician and a lawyer. He was the first Democratic Governor of South Dakota, receiving the highest vote ever received by a Democratic candidate for governor up to that time,, and then went on to serve as a member of the United States Senate.-Biography:Bulow...
in the Democratic primary but lost the general election to Harlan J. Bushfield
Harlan J. Bushfield
Harlan John Bushfield was a politician from South Dakota. He was born in Atlantic, Iowa in 1882. He moved with his family to South Dakota in 1883, and attended the public schools in Miller, South Dakota. He graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1901, and from the University of Minnesota Law...
. That defeat ended his political career.
For several years, he served as director of the Farm Credit Administration in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. He retired to Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, where he lived until his death.