Berkeley L. Bunker

Infobox Senator
name = Berkeley L. Bunker


jr/sr =United States Senator
state = Nevada
term_start = November 27, 1940
term_end = December 6, 1942
preceded = Key Pittman
succeeded = James G. Scrugham
office2=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's At-Large district
term_start2=January 3, 1945
term_end2=January 3, 1947
predecessor2=Maurice J. Sullivan
successor2=Charles H. Russell
date of birth=birth date|1906|8|12
place of birth=Clark County, Nevada
dead = dead
date of death=death date and age|1999|1|21|1906|8|12
place of death=Las Vegas, Nevada
residence=
spouse=
profession=Insurance
religion=
party=Democratic|

Berkeley Lloyd Bunker (August 12, 1906 – January 21, 1999) was a United States Senator and Representative from Nevada.

Born in what was then St. Thomas, Clark County, Nevada (now a northern arm of Lake Mead), he attended public schools, graduating from Clark County High School in 1926. He then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southeastern United States. [ [http://www.1st100.com/part2/bunker.html The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada ] ] After returning from his mission, Bunker married Lucile Whitehead and then entered the tire and oil business in Las Vegas in 1934.

Bunker was a member of the Nevada Assembly from 1936 to 1941, serving as speaker in 1939. On November 27 1940 he was appointed as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Key Pittman for the term ending January 3 1941, and also for the term ending January 3 1947, and served from November 27 1940 until December 6 1942 when a duly elected successor qualified. During his time in the Senate Bunker made headlines by accusing Basic Magnesium of having negotiated a contract with the government to get exorbitant profits. [ [http://aolsvc.timeforkids.kol.aol.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,851544,00.html Anaconda Magnesium - TIME ] ] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the vacancy in 1942, and engaged in the life-insurance business in Las Vegas.

Bunker was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress (January 3, 1945 - January 3, 1947). In the 1944 race Bunker faced Rex Bell, a former movie actor. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199901/ai_n8841928 Politics '99 | Human Events | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] In 1946 Bunker introduced a bill to incorporate Boulder City, Nevada removing it from Federal Control, but the bill never made it out of committee. [ [http://www.pbs.org/bouldercity/incorporation.htm KNPB Online: The Nevada Experience: Boulder City ] ] Bunker and was not a candidate for renomination in 1946. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election to the U.S. Senate in 1946, being defeated by George Malone, and was an investment broker and president of a management and equity company. Bunker also became involved in the mortuary business. [ [http://www.1st100.com/part2/bunker.html The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada ] ]

Bunker resided in Las Vegas until 1999 when he died and was interred in Bunkers Eden Vale Cemetery. At the time of his death, he was the last living Senator who had served as a Senator during the FDR administration.

Bunker was a Latter-day Saint. [ [http://famousmormons.net/pol.html Famous Mormons in Politics ] ] After his time in the senate Bunker served as bishop of one of the LDS wards in Las Vegas. [ [http://www.1st100.com/part2/bunker.html The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada ] ] Although time said he had already served as a bishop before his senate service, this seems to be not based on fact. [ [http://aolsvc.timeforkids.kol.aol.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,851544,00.html Anaconda Magnesium - TIME ] ]

Bunker was involved with the building of the Las Vegas Nevada Temple. [ [http://www.1st100.com/part2/bunker.html The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada ] ]

There is an elementary school named after Bunker in Las Vegas. [ [http://ccsd.net/schools/bunker/ Berkeley L ] ]

References

References