Tasker Lowndes Oddie (October 20, 1870 – February 17, 1950) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 12th governor of Nevada and a United States Senator. He was a member of the Republican Party.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Oddie was educated in Brooklyn, then lived and worked for several years in Nebraska and East Orange, New Jersey. After graduating from New York University School of Law in 1895 and practicing law in New York City, in 1898 he moved to Nevada. He worked in Nevada as the attorney and business agent for wealthy businessman Anson Phelps Stokes, and became active in silver and gold mining. Oddie's mining investments made him wealthy, and he expanded his holdings to include ownership takes in farms, railroads, banks, and cattle ranches.
A Republican, Oddie served as school superintendent and district attorney of Nye County from 1901 to 1903, and was a member of the state senate from 1905 to 1909. Oddie was elected governor in 1910, and served from 1911 to 1915. After running unsuccessfully for governor in 1914 and 1918, in 1920 he won election to the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 1926, and served from 1921 to 1933. Oddie was defeated for reelection in 1932, and for election to the senate in 1938.
In retirement, Oddie spent winters in San Francisco and summers in Nevada. He died in San Francisco on February 17, 1950, and was buried at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City, Nevada.
Early life
Tasker Oddie was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 20, 1870, the son of Henry Meigs Oddie and Ellen Gibson (Prout) Oddie. He attended the public schools of Brooklyn until he was 16, when ill health caused him to travel to Nebraska.
While managing the Trevor estate, Oddie attended New York University School of Law at night, and graduated with an LL.B. in 1895.
In 1910, Oddie was the successful Republican nominee for governor, and he served from 1911 to 1915. On March 17, 1911, he signed the city charter for Las Vegas, the first incorporated city in the state.
Because he was not married during his governorship, Oddie's mother Ellen and his sisters acted as official hostesses. Oddie was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 and returned to his business interests. He was reelected in 1926, and served from March 4, 1921, to March 3, 1933. He was a member of the Knights Templar, the Elks, and the Episcopal Church.
Oddie died in San Francisco on February 17, 1950. Oddie's Tonopah home, the Uri B. Curtis House–Tasker L. Oddie House, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Family
In December 1903, Oddie married Claire Gardner MacDonald; they divorced in November 1904. In November 1916, he married Daisy Rendall MacKeigan, and they were married until his death. Oddie had no children with either wife.