Tom Berry

Thomas Matthew Berry (April 23, 1879 – October 30, 1951) was the 14th 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.

Biography

Berry was born in Paddock, Nebraska, and attended public school in O'Neil, Nebraska. He was married to Lorena McLain and they had four children.

Career

Berry moved to South Dakota in 1897. He homesteaded in Gregory County, moved to Todd County, 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. Berry served in the House of Representatives of the South Dakota Legislature from 1925 to 1931, and was a member of the Custer State Park Board.

Elected governor twice, in 1932 and 1934, 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.

Berry 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.

From 1942 to 1947 he served as director of the Farm Credit Administration in Omaha, Nebraska.

Death

He retired to Rapid City, South Dakota, where he lived until his death.