Thomas Sterling

Thomas Sterling (February 21, 1851August 26, 1930) was an American lawyer, politician, and academic who served as a member of the United States Senate and the first dean of the University of South Dakota College of Law. A Republican, he served in the Senate from 1913 to 1925. He later served as dean and law professor at George Washington University Law School. The University of South Dakota School of Law awards "Sterling Honors" to their graduating top 10% in honor of their first dean. Early life and education Sterling, was born near Amanda, Ohio. He moved with his parents, Charles Sterling (1821–1905) and Anna Kessler (1827–1908) to McLean County, Illinois in 1854, where he attended the public schools and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington in 1875. Career He was superintendent of schools of Bement, Illinois, from 1875 to 1877. His brother John A. Sterling, became a U.S. representative from Illinois.