Theodore B. Werner (June 2, 1892 – January 24, 1989) was a

U.S. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

Democratic

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who served as a member of Congress from South Dakota.

Early life and education

Werner was born in

Ossian, Iowa Ossian (pronounced, ˈosh-ain) is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 802 at the time of the 2020 census. History Ossian was platted in 1855. It was named for its founder, John Ossian Porter. Geography Ossian i ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

immigrants. He attended parochial schools in

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, after which he studied law in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

and

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

Career

In 1909 Werner moved to

Rapid City, South Dakota Rapid City is the county seat of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located on the eastern slope of the Black Hills in western South Dakota and was named after Rapid Creek (South Dakota), Rapid Creek, where the settlement deve ...

, where he became involved in the newspaper and commercial printing businesses. He became editor and publisher of the weekly ''Gate City Guide'' in 1912, and continued as publisher until 1965.

Political career

He was Rapid City's Postmaster from 1915 to 1923. He was a City Commissioner from 1927 to 1930, and served as Rapid City's Mayor in 1929 and 1930. In 1930 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress. In 1932 Werner was elected to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

. He was reelected in 1934 and served from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1937. He lost his 1936 bid for reelection to

Francis H. Case Francis Higbee Case (December 9, 1896June 22, 1962) was an American journalist and politician who served for 25 years as a member of the United States Congress from South Dakota. He was a Republican. Biography Case was born in Everly, Iowa, t ...

. In 1947 Werner was appointed

United States Marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The Marshals Service serves as the enforcement and security arm of the United States federal judi ...

for

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

, and he served until 1951. He died in Rapid City on January 24, 1989, and was buried in Rapid City's Mountain View Cemetery.

Sources

Theodore B. Werner
at
United States Marshals Service
'
Theodore B. Werner
at
Rapid City Public Library
'

References

External links

* 1892 births 1989 deaths 20th-century American newspaper editors 20th-century American newspaper publishers (people) 20th-century mayors of places in South Dakota Law enforcement officials from South Dakota South Dakota postmasters Mayors of Rapid City, South Dakota United States Marshals Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota American people of German descent People from Winneshiek County, Iowa 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives {{SouthDakota-politician-stub