Parents Willard H. Burney | Name Dwight Burney | |
Spouse(s) Edna C. Wales Burney (1914-1961, her death)Grayce Hahn Burney (1965-1987, his death) Role Former Governor of Nebraska Previous office Governor of Nebraska (1960–1961) | ||
Dwight Willard Burney (January 7, 1892 – March 10, 1987) was a Nebraska Republican politician. He served as the 30th Governor of Nebraska from 1960 to 1961.
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Early life and career
Burney was born in Hartington, Nebraska, the son of Willard H. Burney, Representative in the Nebraska legislature in 1919. He attended rural schools and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1912. After graduation, he taught in high schools, farmed and ranched. For 25 years, he was director of the Hartington rural schools.
Political career
Burney was elected a member of the Nebraska Unicameral in 1945 and won reelection until 1957. 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.
Later life
Burney's wife Edna died in 1962, and he married Grayce Hahn (1907-1994) of Polk, Nebraska on January 1, 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.