Terry Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Terry McGovern Carpenter (1900-1978) was a Nebraska
politician. Though he changed his party five times, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives
and later served 22 years in the Nebraska Legislature
. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Senate, Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, as well as mayor of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
. Carpenter was also a successful businessman and founded the village of Terrytown, Nebraska
.
on March 28, 1900. He moved to Scottsbluff in 1916 and was employed in various capacities by a railroad company. From 1922 to 1923 he sold tobacco and candy, moving to Long Beach, California
in 1923. There, he was the manager of the municipal gas and water department. He returned to Scottsbluff in 1927 where he worked in the garage business and the retail coal business.
in 1931, but the next year was elected to the Seventy-third Congress (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1935) as a Democrat
for the 5th District. He did not run for reelection, since he was running for governor of Nebraska in 1934. Failing to get the democratic nomination, he next ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate but lost the election, coming in a distant third place with 18% of the vote, as he was running against the incumbent independent Republican George W. Norris and another Republican candidate. Norris won the election.
He continued to run for various offices unsuccessfully through the 1940s, but was a very successful business man. He established the only gasoline refinery
in Nebraska in Scottsbluff
, with his own chain of gas stations in several states which created gas wars wherever they opened. He eventually sold this operation and started several new businesses.
He was a major in the United States Air Corps
from 1942 to 1945 during World War II
. He was elected mayor of Scottsbluff
in 1947, but later stepped down due to perceived conflicts with his many businesses in the city. He founded a new village on the other side of the river from Scottsbluff in 1949 and called it Terrytown
. He based his new businesses there, selling liquor by the drink before Scottsbluff did, starting a radio station, a drive-in movie theater, and two restaurants.
He changed political affiliation five times, being a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1956. He was successful in being elected to the State legislature in 1952 and served 22 years as a state senator. During this time, he was also engaged in operating Terry Carpenter, Inc., in Terrytown. He retired in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where he died April 27, 1978. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
politician. Though he changed his party five times, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and later served 22 years in the Nebraska Legislature
Nebraska Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....
. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Senate, Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, as well as mayor of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
. Carpenter was also a successful businessman and founded the village of Terrytown, Nebraska
Terrytown, Nebraska
Terrytown is a village in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 646 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. Terrytown is located on the bank of the North Platte River between the cities of Scottsbluff and Gering, Nebraska...
.
Early life
Born in Cedar Rapids, IowaCedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
on March 28, 1900. He moved to Scottsbluff in 1916 and was employed in various capacities by a railroad company. From 1922 to 1923 he sold tobacco and candy, moving to Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
in 1923. There, he was the manager of the municipal gas and water department. He returned to Scottsbluff in 1927 where he worked in the garage business and the retail coal business.
Career
He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Scottsbluff, NebraskaScottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
in 1931, but the next year was elected to the Seventy-third Congress (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1935) as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for the 5th District. He did not run for reelection, since he was running for governor of Nebraska in 1934. Failing to get the democratic nomination, he next ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate but lost the election, coming in a distant third place with 18% of the vote, as he was running against the incumbent independent Republican George W. Norris and another Republican candidate. Norris won the election.
He continued to run for various offices unsuccessfully through the 1940s, but was a very successful business man. He established the only gasoline refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Nebraska in Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
, with his own chain of gas stations in several states which created gas wars wherever they opened. He eventually sold this operation and started several new businesses.
He was a major in the United States Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
from 1942 to 1945 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was elected mayor of Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
in 1947, but later stepped down due to perceived conflicts with his many businesses in the city. He founded a new village on the other side of the river from Scottsbluff in 1949 and called it Terrytown
Terrytown, Nebraska
Terrytown is a village in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 646 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. Terrytown is located on the bank of the North Platte River between the cities of Scottsbluff and Gering, Nebraska...
. He based his new businesses there, selling liquor by the drink before Scottsbluff did, starting a radio station, a drive-in movie theater, and two restaurants.
He changed political affiliation five times, being a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1956. He was successful in being elected to the State legislature in 1952 and served 22 years as a state senator. During this time, he was also engaged in operating Terry Carpenter, Inc., in Terrytown. He retired in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where he died April 27, 1978. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff.
Campaign Failures
Carpenter ran for but failed to be elected to the following offices:- Mayor of Scottsbluff in 1931
- nomination for Governor in 1934
- United States Senate in 1936
- Lieutenant Governor in 1938
- Governor in 1940
- nomination to the United States Senate in 1942
- United States Senate in 1948
- nomination for Governor in 1950
- nomination to the United States Senate in 1954
- nomination for Governor in 1960
- nomination to the United States Senate in 1972
- Lieutenant Governor in 1974
Campaign Successes
Carpenter was elected to the following offices:- United States House of Representatives in 1932
- Mayor of Scottsbluff in 1947 (but later stepped down)
- Nebraska Legislature in 1952 (served through 1974)