Marshall G. Gardiner

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.

Early life 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. He grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas.

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. Gardiner lost the 1960 election to William H. Avery. Gardiner ran for election in 1964, but lost to Dempsey.

Personal life Gardiner married Mary. His wife was also a writer at Leavenworth Times and died in 1984. They had one son, Joe.

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.

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