Jerry Pettis

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Jerry Lyle Pettis (born July 18, 1916 in Phoenix, Arizona, died February 14, 1975, in Banning, California) was an American politician and a Congressman from California. He was also a rancher, teacher, aviator, religious leader, and businessman.

Educated in Arizona and California, he graduated from Pacific Union College in Angwin, California in 1938. He did graduate work at the University of Southern California and the University of Denver in 1939-1941 before becoming a businessman. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

In 1966, he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives representing California's 33rd congressional district until January 1975 and its 37th congressional district thereafter. He was re-elected in 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1974 before dying in a private aircraft crash in Banning, California on February 14, 1975. His wife, Shirley Neil Pettis, replaced him in the House five days later.

He was a Seventh-day Adventist.

The Jerry Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital in Loma Linda, California was so named in his honor. His congressional papers are located in the Archives & Special Collections at Loma Linda University.

[edit] External links

• Entry in the Biographical Directory of Congress
• President Ford's statement on the occasion of his death

Preceded by Kenneth W. Dyal	United States Representative for the 33rd Congressional District of California January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1975	Succeeded by Del M. Clawson
Preceded by Yvonne B. Burke	United States Representative for the 37th Congressional District of California January 3, 1975 – February 14, 1975	Succeeded by Shirley Neil Pettis