Harry Luther Gandy (August 13, 1881 – August 15, 1957) was an American newspaperman, rancher, and politician who served three terms as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from South Dakota from 1915 and 1921.

Early life

He was born in Churubusco, Indiana, where he attended Smith Township

public schools Public school may refer to: *State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government *Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England and ...

in Whitley County, Indiana. In 1901, he graduated from

Tri-State College Trine University is a private university in Angola, Indiana. It was founded in 1884 and offers degrees in the arts and sciences, business, education, and engineering. Trine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. History Tri ...

in nearby Angola, Indiana.

Before politics

By 1907, Gandy had moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. While in South Dakota, he entered the newspaper business and worked as publisher of the '' Wasta, South Dakota Gazette'' from 1910 until 1918. He also owned a working cattle ranch from 1910 until 1945.

Political career

In 1911, Gandy was appointed to South Dakota's State Senate. Two years later, he was appointed by Woodrow Wilson as the receiver of public moneys of the United States land office in Rapid City, a position he held until he was elected to the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

. He served as South Dakota's Third District representative from March 4, 1915 to March 3, 1921. He lost his bid for re-election to a fourth term.

After politics

After politics, Gandy took up agricultural pursuits and returned to his Wasta ranch. In 1923, Gandy moved to Washington, D.C., after he was hired as a lobbyist as the executive secretary of the National Coal Association (NCA), a position he held until 1930. Between 1930 and 1937, Gandy worked for NCA member of the

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. He left Pittson to become chairman of the Bituminous Coal Producers Board in Cincinnati, Ohio, between 1937 and 1940. He worked his remaining years until retirement in executive advisory roles for the Elk River Coal & Lumber Co. and Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad Co. in Widen, West Virginia.

Death and burial

Gandy died on August 15, 1957, while retired in

Los Gatos, California Los Gatos (, ; ) is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population is 33,529 according to the 2020 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area just southwest of San Jose in the foothills of the ...

. He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Rapid City, South Dakota.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gandy, Harry 1881 births 1957 deaths Trine University alumni Democratic Party South Dakota state senators Politicians from Rapid City, South Dakota Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota People from Whitley County, Indiana People from Los Gatos, California 20th-century American legislators