Gary Nodler

Gary Nodler (born August 10, 1950) is a Missouri politician who served as a Republican in the Missouri State Senate,^[1] where he chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee. He is a resident of Joplin, Missouri, married to the former Joncee Edwards with one son, Justin and one granddaughter Rachel.

Biography

He was born in Champaign, Illinois raised in Neosho, Missouri, and attended Crowder College and Missouri Southern State University, where he received his B.A. degree in political science. He has served in the United States Army and in the Missouri National Guard. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church, the American Legion, the National Rifle Association. In 1985, he was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America.

He served as Congressman Gene Taylor's district staff director from 1973 to 1988. He became a regional administrator of the Small Business Administration in 1989, serving through 1992. He was also a member of the Rural Economic Policy Working Group of the White House Economic Policy Council from 1991 to 1992. He served as staff for the Missouri Congressional delegation from 1997 through 2000. He was first elected to the Missouri State Senate in 2002. Nodler wrote Senate Bill 55 elevating Missouri Southern State College to university status and renaming it Missouri Southern State University. He also authored Senate bill 389 which included the Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative, providing capital improvements to Missouri higher education institutions, including $20 million to Missouri Southern State University for the school's new Health Sciences Building. He served as Assistant Majority Floor Leader and on the following committees: Appropriations-Chairman, Education-Chairman, Pensions/ Veterans' Affairs and General Laws, Joint Committee on Capital Improvements and Leases Oversight, Joint Committee on Education, Joint Committee on Government Accountability, Joint Committee on Legislative Research and Oversight-Chairman, Joint Committee on the Life Sciences

Awards

Awards Presented to Senator Nodler:

• The Laborers’ Union of Missouri
• Missouri Laborers’ “Legislator of the Year” Award, 2003
• Missouri Southern State University Outstanding Alumnus, 2003
• Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education Legislative Recognition Award, 2005
• Missouri Community College Association Distinguished Legislator Award, 2005
• Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry "100% For Jobs" Award, 2005
• American Institute of Architects Appreciation Award, 2006 and 2008
• The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Award, 2007
• Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates Association Legislative Award, 2007
• Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Legislator of Year Award, 2007
• Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry Spirit of Enterprise Award, 2007
• LIFT Missouri, Legislators For Literacy Award, 2008
• Gateway Chapter of the Autism Society of America Certificate of Recognition, 2008
• St. Louis Business Journal Legislative Award, 2008
• Missouri Healthcare Association Senior Advocate of the Year, 2009
• St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association Lewis & Clark Statesman Award, 2009
• Judicial Conference of Missouri, Recognition for the Advancement of the Administration of Justice in Missouri, 2009
• Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations Legislator of the Year, 2010

References