Berkeley Lloyd Bunker

Democrat Representative of Nevada

Congresses Served

House Terms

Senate Terms

January 1, 1906 (93 years old)

Birthday

January 1, 1999

Death

Served as both a U.S. Senator and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada in the mid-20th century.
Born in St. Thomas, Clark County, Nevada, and graduated from Clark County High School in 1926.
Entered the tire and oil business in Las Vegas in 1934 after marrying Lucile Whitehead.
Was a member of the Nevada Assembly from 1936 to 1941, serving as speaker in 1939.
Appointed as a U.S. Senator to replace Key Pittman in 1940, serving until 1942.
First southern Nevadan and first Nevadan Mormon to serve in federal office.
Accused Basic Magnesium of negotiating a contract with the government for exorbitant profits during his time in the Senate.
Elected to Nevada’s only House seat in 1944, serving until 1947.
Introduced a bill to incorporate Boulder City, Nevada, which did not pass.
Ran for U.S. Senate in 1946 but lost due to a divided Democratic vote.
Later became a hotel manager and co-founded the Bunker Brothers mortuary.
Ran for lieutenant governor in 1962 but lost.
Last living senator serving at the time of the U.S. declaration of war on Japan and during FDR’s presidency.
Was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served a mission for the church, and was involved in the building of the Las Vegas Nevada Temple.
Married twice, first to Lucile Whitehead who died in 1988, and then to Della Lee in 1989.
Died in 1999 and was interred in Bunker’s Eden Vale Cemetery.
Berkeley L. Bunker Elementary School in Las Vegas is named after him.