Gladys Shields Pyle (October 4, 1890March 14, 1989) was an American educator, politician and the first woman elected to the United States Senate without having previously been appointed to her position; she was also the first female senator to serve as a Republican and the first female senator from South Dakota. In addition, she was the first female senator from outside the south.

Early life

Gladys Shields Pyle was born in Huron, South Dakota on October 4, 1890, the daughter of John L. Pyle and Mamie Shields Pyle, and was the youngest of their four children, Her father was a lawyer who served as Attorney General of South Dakota and her mother was a leading suffragist in the state. The family lived in a home John built,

John and Mamie were instrumental in the establishment of Huron College, which Gladys attended. She graduated in 1911, and moved to Chicago to attend the American Conservatory of Music and the University of Chicago.

Early career

Pyle worked in education from 1912 to 1920. After teaching Latin and civics for two years in Huron, she became principal of Wessington's public schools. Gladys, her mother Mamie, and two sisters were very involved in the Women's Suffrage movement and frequently hosted meetings of the local League of Women Voters chapter in their house. Pyle became a lecturer for the league She was reelected in 1924, and served from 1923 to 1927. In addition to her part-time legislative position, Pyle was also appointed to serve as Deputy Secretary of State of South Dakota.

Secretary of State

In 1926, Pyle was the successful Republican nominee for Secretary of State of South Dakota. and served from 1927 to 1931.

In 1930, she was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor. She won the primary, garnering nearly a third of the vote. Since no candidate received the 35% required under South Dakota law, the contest moved to the Republican Convention, where the delegates would select the nominee from the five candidates on the primary ballot. Pyle led the fourth, and sixth through eleven ballots, increasing her total votes each ballot, except for a significant loss of votes the eighth ballot as she was closing in on the nomination. During the 12th ballot, the Convention Chair suspended the roll call and over three hours later, three male candidates threw their support to Warren E. Green, who had run last in the primary with about 7.5% of the vote and who won the nomination when the roll call resumed. Pyle quickly conceded defeat without rancor or accusation but did not endorse Green until after the filing period for filing as an independent had ended. She later hinted at her disappointment when she indicated she would not seek further partisan political office. and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. In addition, she was elected president of the Huron Life Underwriters Association, and was active in the National Association of Life Underwriters.

After the election, Pyle traveled to Washington, D.C. at her own expense, accompanied by her mother and one aide.

Later career

In January 1939, Pyle returned to her insurance business, and remained closely involved in public service work. She was a member of the South Dakota Board of Charities and Corrections from 1943 to 1957. She died in Huron on March 14, 1989, aged 98.

Legacy

The Pyle House, the family home that Gladys Pyle lived in from 1894 until 1985 is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been converted into a museum.

See also

  • Women in the United States Senate
  • List of United States senators from South Dakota

Notes

References

|-

|-

|-