Jack Holmes Berryman was born July 28, 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Richard and Theodora Berryman. By 1940, Berryman had earned his AA (general studies) from Westminster College in Salt Lake City. In December of 1941, Berryman enlisted in the United States Navy (as a marine) and fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II, seeing action in the Mariana Islands. Berryman was awarded a Silver Star for bravery and a Purple Heart with Cluster before being honorably discharged in November of 1945. Upon his release from the Navy, Berryman continued his education at the University of Utah and by 1947, Berryman had earned his BS in science and his MS in ecology.

After his graduation, Berryman began a lifelong career in the natural resources field. From 1947 to 1950, Berryman worked for the Utah Fish & Game Department conducting research and working on numerous projects. During 1950-1953, while based in New Mexico, Berryman worked for the US Fish & Wildlife Service and conducted field research focusing on wildlife habitat restoration projects. From 1953 to 1959, Berryman worked for the Federal Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in Minnesota, until he returned to Utah to teach at Utah State University. In 1965 Berryman was offered a job in Washington, DC working for the Federal Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Berryman served in this capacity until 1977 when he was promoted to work for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. In 1979, Berryman accepted a position with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Berryman continued in this capacity until his death on March 3, 1999.

Over the course of Berryman's life, he received numerous awards and belonged to many organizations. Some of Berryman's major awards were: the Distinguished Service Award from the US Department of Interior (1979), the Seth Gordon Award (1985), the Outstanding Wildlife Contributor Award (1988), the Special Conservation Achievement Award (1988), and the Aldo Leopold Award (1995), and in 1993 the Jack Berryman Institute for Wildlife Damage Management was founded at Utah State University in his honor. Some of the organizations Berryman belonged to were; The Wildlife Society (1950-1999), The National Honorary Forestry Society (1959-1999), The American Fisheries Society (1974-1999), and The International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (1955-1999). Berryman was also an accomplished writer on wildlife issues. During his life, Berryman published 115 articles with a particular emphasis on land and resource policy, planning, use and philosophy, extension education, concepts of outdoor recreation, and regulating animal numbers.

Source: Coll Mss 289: Box 1; Fd 1: Vitae and biographical sketches.