Gladys PYLE, Congress, SD (1890-1989)

PYLE, Gladys, a Senator from South Dakota; born in Huron, Beadle County, S.Dak., October 4, 1890; attended the public schools; graduated from Huron (S.Dak.) College in 1911; taught in the public high schools at Miller, Wessington, and Huron, S.Dak., 1912-1918; first woman member of the State house of representatives 1923-1927; served as secretary of State of South Dakota 1927-1931; unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for governor 1930; member of the State securities commission 1931-1933; engaged in the life insurance business; elected on November 8, 1938, as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Peter Norbeck and served from November 9, 1938, to January 3, 1939; was not a candidate for election in 1938 to the full term; resumed the life insurance business and also engaged in farm management; member of the South Dakota Board of Charities and Corrections 1943-1957; agent for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. 1950-1986; died in Huron, S.Dak., March 14, 1989; cremated, ashes interred in Riverside Cemetery.

Bibliography

Kinyon, Jeanette, and Jean Walz. The Incredible Gladys Pyle. Vermillion, S.Dak.: Dakota Press, University of South Dakota, 1985; Pressler, Larry. “Gladys Pyle.” In U.S. Senators from the Prairie, pp. 112-13. Vermillion, S.Dak.: Dakota Press, 1982.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present