Dwight Willard Burney

Background

Burney was born in Hartington, Nebraska, the son of Willard H. Burney, Representative in the Nebraska legislature in 1919.

Education

He attended rural schools and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1912.

Career

He served as the 30th Governor of Nebraska from 1960 to 1961. After graduation he taught in high schools, farmed and ranched. Burney was director of the Hartington rural schools for twenty-five years, engaged in farming and ranching, and was leader of 4-H Club work for eleven years.

He served as Speaker during that time.

In 1957, Burney became the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska. Reelected, he served in that office until he became governor of Nebraska after Ralph G. Brooks died in office on September 9, 1960.

During his tenure, a state sales tax was promoted, and controversy over the firing of Jack Obblick, State Aeronautics Director, was handled. He was governor of Nebraska until the inauguration of Frank B. Morrison in 1961, and served again as Lieutenant Governor until 1965.

Burney and Grayce made their home in Polk.

Burney died in his winter home in Mesa, Arizona, on March 10, 1987. He is interred at Hartington, Nebraska. He was a freemason.

Achievements

• Burney was elected a member of the Nebraska Unicameral in 1945 and won reelection until 1957.