JOHN GAVIN
Personal & Professional Background

I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. After serving in the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam era, I moved to Nevada, living here now for almost 40 years.  After earning a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, I returned to school in my late 30’s and got a law degree in 1985.

My work experience spans the public and private sectors.  Not only have I been a casino change person and bartender during college, but I’ve also worked as a retail sales clerk and a food & beverage supervisor; I’ve owned a rehabilitation counseling firm and worked for several agencies in state government.

I’ve been married to my college sweetheart, Joyce, for 34 years.  She comes from a Basque sheep ranching family and both Joyce and I remain active in the ranching tradition. Likewise, our daughter, Tedra, competes in barrel racing and roping events.  Our nuclear family maintains a working ranch at Topaz Lake where we raise up to 2,500 sheep, and have several hundred acres of alfalfa under production.

I’m a pilot, have a black belt in karate and have been an experienced sky diver. Also, I am active in the community recently serving on the board of directors for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and as an ongoing member of the Dayton Valley Conservation District.