Marshall Gephart Gardiner (September 27, 1912 – 1999) was a news journalist at the Leavenworth Times and member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1957 to 1960.

Marshall G. Gardiner
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 5th district
In office
1957–1960
Personal details
Born
Marshall Gephart Gardiner

(1912-09-27)September 27, 1912
Died1999(1999-00-00) (aged 86–87)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Mary
(died 1984)

J'Noel Ball
(m. 1998)
Children1
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • stockbroker
  • politician
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsPhilippine Liberation Ribbon

Early life edit

Marshall Gephart Gardiner was born on September 27, 1912, to Alice (née Gephart) and Joseph Emmett Gardiner. His father and uncle were newspaper publishers in Valley Falls, Winchester and Oskaloosa. His father worked on the Leavenworth Times. His grandfather, Marshall Gephart, was a lawyer and judge in Valley Falls and Oskaloosa. Gardiner was descended from Lion Gardiner, a real estate investor in Long Island.[1][2] He grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas.[1]

Career edit

Gardiner served as an engineer in the U.S. Army amphibious forces in World War II. He served in the South Pacific. He received a Bronze Arrowhead, four battle stars and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.[1]

Gardiner worked as a news reporter at Leavenworth Times for 15 years. He also worked as a stockbroker.[1] Gardiner served as justice of the peace in Leavenworth until his resignation in January 1957.[3]

Gardiner was a Democrat. He worked as a precinct worker, district chairman and the treasurer of the state Democratic committee. Gardiner started serving in the Kansas House of Representatives in 1957. He was re-elected for a second term in 1958.[1][4][5][6] Gardiner lost the 1960 election to William H. Avery.[7] Gardiner ran for election in 1964, but lost to Dempsey.[8]

Personal life edit

Gardiner married Mary. His wife was also a writer at Leavenworth Times and died in 1984. They had one son, Joe.[4] Gardiner married J'Noel Ball, a finance professor at Park College, in September 1998 in Oskaloosa.[4][9]

Gardiner died in 1999 of a heart attack. After his death, Gardiner's son filed the lawsuit In re Estate of Gardiner against Gardiner's widow after her transgender identity was revealed.[4]

Legacy edit

In 1994, Gardiner donated $125,000 to the science program at Park College.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Science Program Gets $125,000 boost". The Valley Falls Vindicator. Valley Falls, Kansas. p. 5. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  2. ^ "Emmett Gardiner Dies". The Winchester Star. February 20, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ "Justice of the Peace Appointments Made". The Wichita Eagle. January 12, 1957. p. 3. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Sex change, Kansan's estate raise unique issues". The Wichita Eagle. July 9, 2000. p. 7A. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "Two to J. P. Posts". The Kansas City Star. January 12, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "G.O.P., 69 to 56". The Kansas City Star. November 6, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "Kansas for Nixon by 198,261 Votes". Kansas City Times. December 1, 1960. p. 4A. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "New Faces in Kansas House". The Kansas City Star. August 6, 1964. p. 4. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "Court declares transsexual marriages invalid". The Wichita Eagle. March 16, 2002. p. 4B. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.