Biography:

Jim Gibbons was born and raised in Sparks, Nevada. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in geology from the University of Nevada in Reno, then received a law degree from Southwestern University Law School.

He served four years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and later worked as a commercial airline pilot, first with Western Airlines and later with Delta Air Lines.

He also rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Nevada Air National Guard and flew 36 missions as a pilot during the Persian Gulf War. His military medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross for the Persian Gulf stint in 1991.

Gibbons and his wife, Dawn, have three children and live in Reno. Dawn Gibbons currently serves in the state Assembly.

Past Campaigns:

Jim Gibbons was first elected to the Nevada State Assembly in 1988 and served three terms there. In his first year in the state legislature, he was named "Outstanding Freshman Legislator."

He resigned just after his 1990 re-election to serve as a pilot in the Persian Gulf War, and his wife, Dawn, was named to fill in for him.

Re-elected in 1992, he served as Republican whip during the 1993 session. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1994, losing to incumbent Democratic Gov. Bob Miller by a vote of 200,026 to 156,875.

Gibbons was first elected to represent Nevada's 2nd Congressional District in 1996 and has easily won re-election since then. He was re-elected in 2002 with 74 percent of the vote.

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