Author ID: g-nodler

Born on Aug. 10, 1950, Senator Nodler grew up in Neosho, MO and graduated from Neosho High School in 1968. He graduated from Missouri Southern State College in 1972 with a B.A. in Political Science. A member of the American Legion, Nodler served in the United States Army and the Missouri National Guard. He was Congressman Gene Taylor’s district staff director until the Congressman retired in 1988. President Bush appointed Senator Nodler to serve as Regional Administrator for the United States Small Business Administration in 1989, a post he held until Bush left office in January of 1993. In 1991, he was appointed to serve as a member of the Rural Economic Policy Working Group a cabinet-level working group of the Economic Policy Council at The White House. Senator Nodler also served as the President's advisor to the Council on Rural America. As president and owner of SoMo Cable, Inc., Senator Nodler built and operated the cable television system in Seneca, Mo. He also owned and operated a consulting business that worked with Midwest Paging Systems, Lucky Strike Fishing Lures, Hookup Corp. and Leggett and Platt. Nodler’s extensive affiliations include: the National Rifle Association, the Farm Bureau, the Joplin Rotary Club, the Spiva Center for the Arts and the Joplin Historical Society. He also served as executive director of the Monett Chamber of Commerce for three years. Gary Nodler has been married to the former Joncee Edwards of Neosho for 28 years. They have a son, Justin, and a granddaughter, Rachel. The Nodlers reside in Joplin. In November of 2002, Gary Nodler won election as a Republican to the Missouri Senate, representing the 32nd District, which includes Dade, Jasper and Newton counties.