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 University 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 joined the staff of Congressman Gene Taylor in 1973 and served as Taylor's district staff director until the Congressman retired in 1988. During that time, Senator Nodler was recognized as one of the nation's Outstanding Young Men in America.

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.

In 1997, Nodler was appointed to a shared staff position working with Senator Kit Bond, Senator John Ashcroft and Congressman Roy Blunt on matters relating to small business and federal procurement.

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 Association of Retired Federal Employees, 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.

The Senator is an active member of the First United Methodist Church where he has served as a past-president of the Methodist Men's club, chairman of the Administrative Board and as a trustee.

Gary Nodler has been married to the former Joncee Edwards of Neosho since 1974. 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 32^nd District, which includes Dade, Jasper and Newton counties.

He was sworn into his four-year state senate term on Jan. 8, 2003, the opening day of the First Regular Session of the 92^nd General Assembly of the Great State of Missouri.

Since elected to the Senate, Senator Nodler earned the Missouri Southern State University Outstanding Alumnus award in 2003.

Senator Nodler’s committee assignments include:

Ø      Joint Committee on Legislative Research - Co-Chairman

Ø      Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Ø      Joint Committee on Government Accountability

Ø      Subcommittee on Competition and Privatization - Chairman

Ø      Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics - Vice-Chairman

Ø      Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight - Vice-Chairman

Ø      Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government

Ø      Appropriations

Ø      Transportation

Senator Nodler’s other appointments include:

Ø      Commission on the Future of Higher Education, 2003

Ø      National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration, 2003