Gary Nodler is a Missouri

Missouri

Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...

 politician who served as a 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...

 in the Missouri State Senate, where he chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee. He is a resident of Joplin, Missouri

Joplin, Missouri

Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...

, married to the former Joncee Edwards with one child, Justin.

Biography

He was raised in Neosho, Missouri

Neosho, Missouri

Neosho is the most populous city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Neosho is an integral part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....

, and attended Crowder College

Crowder College

Crowder College, established in 1963 on the grounds of the former Fort Crowder, is a two-year community college serving the Junior College District of Newton and McDonald counties in southwestern Missouri and other outlying areas, granting certificates, diplomas, and associate's degrees...

 and Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern State University is a public, state university located in Joplin, Missouri. Missouri Southern State University was formerly Missouri Southern State College and is also known as Missouri Southern, MSSU, or MoSo for short. Established in 1937 as Joplin Junior College, Missouri...

, where he received his B.A.

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 degree in political science

Political science

Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...

. He has served in the United States 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...

 and in the Missouri National Guard

Missouri National Guard

The Missouri National Guard consists of the:*Missouri Army National Guard*Missouri Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...

. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church, the American Legion

American Legion

The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...

, the National Rifle Association

National Rifle Association

The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...

, Farm Bureau, and Rotary Club. In 1985, he was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America.

He served as Congressman

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 Gene Taylor's

Gene Taylor (Missouri)

Gene Taylor was a Republican U.S. representative from Missouri.He was born near Sarcoxie, Missouri, where Taylor attended local public schools....

 district staff director from 1973 to 1988. He became an administrator of the Small Business Administration

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...

 in 1989, serving through 1992. He was also a member of the Rural Economic Policy Working Group of the White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...

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. He served on the following committees:
Appropriations, Chair
Education
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, Vice-Chair
Joint Committee on the Life Sciences

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