Governor Dwight Willard Burney

DWIGHT W. BURNEY, the thirty-first governor of Nebraska, was born in Hartington, Nebraska, on January 7, 1892. His education was attained at Hartington High School, and then at the University of South Dakota, where he took classes for two years. Burney taught school in South Dakota, and worked in the farming and ranching industries in Hartington. He first entered politics as a member of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, a position he held from 1945 to 1957, and where he served as speaker. Burney also served as the lieutenant governor of Nebraska from 1957 to 1960. On September 9, 1960, Governor Ralph G. Brooks died in office, and Burney, who was the lieutenant governor at the time, assumed the duties of the governorship. During his tenure, a state sales tax was promoted; and the controversial firing of State Aeronautics Director Jack Obbink was handled. After leaving office on January 5, 1961, Burney returned to his duties as lieutenant governor, a position he held until 1965. Governor Dwight W. Burney passed away on March 10, 1987, and was buried in the Hartington Cemetery in Hartington, Nebraska.