Jerry Lyle Pettis (July 18, 1916 in Phoenix, Arizona – 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 and was a pilot for United Airlines.
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 when she won a special election on April 29, 1975.
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.
He is buried at Montecito Memorial Park, 3520 East Washington Street, Colton, San Bernardino County, California 92324 USA.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |