Tom Berry

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Thomas Matthew Berry (b. April 23, 1879, d. 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 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 1932.^[1] He ran for a third term in 1936 but was defeated by Leslie Jensen.^[2] In 1938, he defeated interim United States Senator Herbert Hitchcock in the Democratic Primary election^[3], but lost the general election to Chan Gurney.^[4] In 1942 he defeated incumbent United States Senator, William J. Bulow, in the Democratic Primary Election^[5] but lost the general election to Harlan J. Bushfield.^[6] That defeat ended his political career.

For serveral 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.^[7]

[edit] Notes

^ Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989 (1989), p. 91.
^ South Dakota Manual, 1937, p. 389.
^ South Dakota Manual, 1939, p. 406.
^ South Dakota Manual, 1939, p. 413.
^ South Dakota Manual, 1943, p. 293
^ South Dakota Manual, 1943, p. 296.
^ Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989 (1989), p. 91.

Preceded by Warren Green	Governor of South Dakota 1933–1937	Succeeded by Leslie Jensen

Governors of South Dakota
Mellette • Sheldon • Lee • Herreid • Elrod • Crawford • Vessey • Byrne • Norbeck • McMaster • Gunderson • Bulow • Green • Berry • Jensen • Bushfield • Sharpe • G.T. Mickelson • Anderson • Foss • Herseth • Gubbrud • Boe • Farrar • Kneip • Wollman • Janklow • G.S. Mickelson • Miller • Janklow • Rounds