Pyle, Gladys, 1890-1989

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

Born in Huron, South Dakota, Pyle attended Huron College in her hometown, graduating with a liberal arts degree with a music emphasis in 1911. She moved to Chicago, taking graduate courses at the American Conservatory of Music and the University of Chicago before returning to Huron the following year, teaching high school until 1918 when she accepted a position as principal of a school in Wessington, South Dakota. Heavily influenced by her suffragist mother, Pyle was active with the local League of Women Voters, becoming a lecturer for the league.

In 1922, Pyle ran for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives, ekeing out a narrow victory. 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. In 1926, Pyle was the successful Republican nominee for Secretary of State of South Dakota. She was reelected in 1928, serving from 1927 to 1931. She became active in the life insurance business during her political career, working as an agent for several companies.

On November 8, 1938 Pyle was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the December 1936 death of Peter Norbeck, serving the last few months of Norbeck's term. In January 1939, Pyle returned to her insurance business and stayed closely involved in public service work. At the 1940 Republican Convention in Philadelphia, Pyle became the first woman to nominate a presidential candidate, backing South Dakota Governor Harlan John Bushfield. During that same year, she also made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of her hometown of Huron. From 1943 to 1957, Pyle served on the South Dakota board of charities and corrections. Pyle lived in Huron and was involved in numerous charities and civic organizations. In 1980, on her 90th birthday, the town named Pyle its “First Citizen.” Pyle would die there in March 1989.