Gladys Shields Pyle (October 4, 1890March 14, 1989) was an American educator, politician and the first woman elected to the United States Senate without having previously been appointed to her position; she was also the first female senator to serve as a Republican and the first female senator from South Dakota. Further, she was the first female senator from outside the south. (The previous four had come from Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama, respectively.) She was also the first unmarried female senator. Early life Gladys Shields Pyle was born in Huron, South Dakota on October 4, 1890, the daughter of John L. Pyle and Mamie Shields Pyle, and was the youngest of their four children, three girls and one boy. Her father was a lawyer who served as Attorney General of South Dakota and her mother was a leading suffragist in the state. The family lived in a home John built, remaining there after his death from typhoid fever in 1902. John and Mamie were instrumental in the establishment of Huron College, which Gladys attended. While a student, Gladys competed in debates alongside her sisters. She graduated in 1911, and moved to Chicago to attend the American Conservatory of Music and the University of Chicago. Early career Pyle worked in education from 1912 to 1920. After teaching Latin and civics for two years in Huron, she became principal of Wessington's public schools. Gladys, her mother Mamie, and two sisters were very involved in the Women's Suffrage movement and frequently hosted meetings of the local League of Women Voters chapter in their house. Pyle became a lecturer for the league and traveled to Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Ohio to give speeches and make presentations. In 1922, she ran for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. After failing to gain the nomination through the Beadle County Republicans, Pyle ran in the Independent ticket primary, which she appeared to lose, but successfully contested the result. In the general election, she was the leading vote getter for the three at large House seats, and was elected on the Independent ticket, along with two Republicans. In 1923 she became first woman member of the state House of Representatives. She was reelected in 1924, and served from 1923 to 1927. In addition to her part-time legislative position, Pyle was also appointed to serve as Deputy Secretary of State of South Dakota. Secretary