| Gene McNary | |
| Order1: | 4th Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission |
| Term Start1: | January, 2006 |
| Term End1: | July 1, 2010 |
| Predecessor1: | Steve Johnson (Acting) |
| Successor1: | Roger Stottlemyre |
| Order2: | 13th Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service |
| Term Start2: | October 26, 1989 |
| Term End2: | January 20, 1993 |
| Predecessor2: | Alan C. Nelson |
| Order3: | 4th County Executive of St. Louis County |
| Term Start3: | 1975 |
| Term End3: | October 25, 1989 |
| Predecessor3: | Lawrence K. Roos |
| Successor3: | H. C. Milford |
| Order4: | Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis County |
| Term Start4: | 1967 |
| Term End4: | 1974 |
| Birth Place: | Muncie, Indiana, U.S. |
| Residence: | Ladue, Missouri |
| Occupation: | Politician Attorney |
| Alma Mater: | Indiana University |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Susan McNary |
| Children: | Cole McNary |
Gene McNary (born September 14, 1935) is an American politician.[1] He has served as the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, and County Executive of St. Louis County.[1] He has also been a Republican candidate for Governor and Senator in Missouri.[1]
Gene McNary was born September 14, 1935, in Muncie, Indiana.[2] His father was and oil jobber and his mother worked with him.[3] McNary earned both his bachelor's and law degrees from Indiana University.[4] After law school McNary decided to move to St. Louis, where he joined the Lashly, Lashly & Miller law firm.[3]
In 1963, McNary began his career as a public servant by becoming assistant public defender.[3] In 1966, he decided to run for Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis County.[3] He won the election and then went on to win reelection.[1] He then ran for County Executive of St. Louis County and won four terms in that position.[1] As county executive, he helped create a regional arts commission, merge the county and city hospitals into one regional facility, and create a regional convention and visitors bureau.[3] At the time he also served as the chairman of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council.[3]
In 1980 he was the Republican nominee for Senator.[5] He narrowly lost to incumbent Senator Thomas Eagleton with a 52.0% to a 47.2% margin.[5] In 1984, McNary lost the Republican primary for Governor to Attorney General John Ashcroft.[6] In 1989, McNary was appointed Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service by President George H. W. Bush.[3] He stayed in that position for over 3 years.[3]
In 1994, McNary went back to St. Louis and joined the Danna law firm.[7] In 1998, he formed a law firm, McNary, Morris & Smalley, that specialized in immigration.[7] While in private practice, he decided to run to represent Missouri's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.[6] The seat was open because the incumbent, Jim Talent, decided to run for governor. He narrowly lost the Republican primary to Todd Akin by about 50 votes.[6] In 2004, McNary ran to become St. Louis County Executive, a position vacated by Buzz Westfall's death.[8] He lost to Charlie Dooley with a margin of 45.8% to 52.9%.[8]
In 2006, Governor Matt Blunt appointed McNary the Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission.[6] McNary was in that position while St. Louis got two new casinos and while the $500 loss limit was ended.[9] McNary left his job at the Missouri Gaming Commission when two new Democratic appointees made it possible for him to be removed from his post.[9] He then ran for assessor of St. Louis County in 2012.[4] The Republican Central Committee of St. Louis County chose L.K. "Chip" Wood as the Republican nominee for the position, in a 23–21 vote.[10] McNary has five children and nine grandchildren.[4] One of his children is former Missouri State Rep. Cole McNary.[11]