Red Berry (Texas politician)
Encyclopedia
Virgil Edward “Red” Berry (February 27, 1899 – November 24, 1969) was a Texas
politician who represented San Antonio
in both the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Senate
in the 1960s. He was also widely known for his involvement in gambling
in the San Antonio area throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
, Arkansas
, one of 13 children. As a young man, he worked as an office clerk in Fort Smith, and, later, for the Union Pacific Railroad
as a machinist apprentice. In World War I
, he served in the 60th Railway Transportation Corps in the U.S. Army
in France
. He was later stationed at Fort Sam Houston
in San Antonio as an MP
. In this capacity he patrolled downtown San Antonio streets for wayward soldiers.
After his departure from the Army, Berry returned to San Antonio in 1929. With his knowledge of San Antonio's seamier side, he entered the gambling business. He opened the elegant Turf Club in 1934 on Soledad Street. He was convicted for shooting Otto “Skeeter” Klaus—a bootlegger and murderer—with a sawed-off shotgun
. The verdict was appealed, but no retrial ever took place, sparing Berry jail time. The Turf Club was raided by the Texas Rangers
in October 1944, but the club remained open.
Berry was considered the prime suspect in the 1945 shotgun-blast murder of another San Antonio gambling kingpin, Hersel Gray, but was never indicted. He was indicted two other times for murder, but never convicted. By the time the Turf Club finally closed in 1957, Berry had moved his gambling operations twice.
The first move was to the nearby town of La Vernia, Texas
. While his gambling interests were based there, Berry won—in a game of Pitch
—title to an 84 acres (34 ha) tract of land southeast of Fort Sam Houston. In 1951, he constructed a 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²) house in the style of a French chateau that included a full basement, where he subsequently moved his casino. A police raid in 1955 confiscated his gambling equipment and closed down the operation.
In 1960, with the dual goals of gaining respectability for himself and pushing for the legalization of parimutuel wagering
on horse-racing in Texas, Berry won the Democratic Party
primary for District 68, Place 4, in the Texas House of Representatives. In the general election, the 61-year-old Berry faced off against 29-year-old Republican
Henry Catto
, son of a prominent insurance man in San Antonio. During the campaign, which included a televised debate, Berry referred to Catto as “kiddo” and “fat cat Catto”. In the heavily Democratic Texas of the era, Berry won the election with 54 percent of the vote.
After serving his freshman term in the Texas House in the 57th Legislature
, Berry was re-elected to the 58th
and the 59th Legislature
s. When Walter Richter
did not seek re-election to his Texas Senate seat, Berry successfully ran for the District 19
seat in 1966. Berry was re-elected in 1968. While still a sitting senator, Berry succumbed to cancer on 24 November 1969 in San Antonio.
Berry was married to the former Lydia Josephine Galloway. They had a son, Duke Edward Berry, in 1938.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
politician who represented San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in both the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
in the 1960s. He was also widely known for his involvement in gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
in the San Antonio area throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
Biography
Berry was born 27 February 1899 near Fort SmithFort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, one of 13 children. As a young man, he worked as an office clerk in Fort Smith, and, later, for the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
as a machinist apprentice. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in the 60th Railway Transportation Corps in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was later stationed at Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
in San Antonio as an MP
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
. In this capacity he patrolled downtown San Antonio streets for wayward soldiers.
After his departure from the Army, Berry returned to San Antonio in 1929. With his knowledge of San Antonio's seamier side, he entered the gambling business. He opened the elegant Turf Club in 1934 on Soledad Street. He was convicted for shooting Otto “Skeeter” Klaus—a bootlegger and murderer—with a sawed-off shotgun
Sawed-off shotgun
A sawed-off shotgun also called a sawn-off shotgun and a short-barreled shotgun , is a type of shotgun with a shorter gun barrel and often a shorter or absent stock....
. The verdict was appealed, but no retrial ever took place, sparing Berry jail time. The Turf Club was raided by the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
in October 1944, but the club remained open.
Berry was considered the prime suspect in the 1945 shotgun-blast murder of another San Antonio gambling kingpin, Hersel Gray, but was never indicted. He was indicted two other times for murder, but never convicted. By the time the Turf Club finally closed in 1957, Berry had moved his gambling operations twice.
The first move was to the nearby town of La Vernia, Texas
La Vernia, Texas
La Vernia is a city in Wilson County, Texas, United States. The population was 931 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. While his gambling interests were based there, Berry won—in a game of Pitch
Pitch (card game)
Pitch is an American trick-taking card game derived from the English game of All Fours . Historically, Pitch started as "Blind All Fours", a very simple All Fours variant that is still played in England as a pub game...
—title to an 84 acres (34 ha) tract of land southeast of Fort Sam Houston. In 1951, he constructed a 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²) house in the style of a French chateau that included a full basement, where he subsequently moved his casino. A police raid in 1955 confiscated his gambling equipment and closed down the operation.
In 1960, with the dual goals of gaining respectability for himself and pushing for the legalization of parimutuel wagering
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
on horse-racing in Texas, Berry won the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary for District 68, Place 4, in the Texas House of Representatives. In the general election, the 61-year-old Berry faced off against 29-year-old Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Henry Catto
Henry E. Catto, Jr.
Henry Edward Catto, Jr. is an American businessman and public servant.A native of San Antonio, Texas and son of a prominent insurance man, he was educated at T.M.I.—The Episcopal School of Texas, graduating in 1948, and at Williams College, graduating in 1952. In the early 1960s, Catto twice ran...
, son of a prominent insurance man in San Antonio. During the campaign, which included a televised debate, Berry referred to Catto as “kiddo” and “fat cat Catto”. In the heavily Democratic Texas of the era, Berry won the election with 54 percent of the vote.
After serving his freshman term in the Texas House in the 57th Legislature
Fifty-seventh Texas Legislature
The 57th Texas Legislature met from January 10, 1961 to May 29, 1961 in Regular Session. Three special sessions were held during 1961 and 1962 as well...
, Berry was re-elected to the 58th
Fifty-eighth Texas Legislature
The 58th Texas Legislature met from January 8, 1963 to May 24, 1963. All members present during this session were elected in the 1962 general elections.-Senate:-House:-Senate:* Lieutenant Governor: Preston Smith...
and the 59th Legislature
Fifty-ninth Texas Legislature
The 59th Texas Legislature met from January 12, 1965 to May 31, 1965, and again in a special called session from February 14, 1966 to February 23, 1966...
s. When Walter Richter
Walter Richter
Walter Richter was a German actor. From 1970 until 1982 he starred in the Norddeutscher Rundfunk version of the popular television crime series Tatort.-References:...
did not seek re-election to his Texas Senate seat, Berry successfully ran for the District 19
Texas Senate, District 19
District 19 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves all of Bandera, Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler counties, and portions...
seat in 1966. Berry was re-elected in 1968. While still a sitting senator, Berry succumbed to cancer on 24 November 1969 in San Antonio.
Berry was married to the former Lydia Josephine Galloway. They had a son, Duke Edward Berry, in 1938.
External links
- The Red Berry Mansion on the Lake, the official website of Berry’s chateau-style home/gambling club.