Banker invests in legislative service

Above: Sen. John Stinner and his wife Rita visit the Muir Woods National Monument while on a trip to San Francisco.

Sen. John Stinner’s path to the Nebraska Legislature began in a Pennsylvania household with seven siblings.

But growing up in a large family was not as chaotic as one would expect, Stinner said, because his father was an Army drill sergeant who prioritized exemplary behavior. Those expectations culminated in the future senator serving as an Eagle Scout, high school class president and captain of several sports teams.

A multi-sport standout, Stinner was recruited to play football for the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. He played for two national championship teams from 1969 to 1972, two years as a running back and two years as a linebacker.

Not being a starter meant he watched many games from the bench.

“I got to know the coaches really well,” Stinner said with a smile.

While playing football didn’t make him famous, Stinner said his scholarship furnished a degree in business administration that led him to start his career and eventually settle in Nebraska.

Stinner started his business career in public accounting and spent several years revitalizing failing banks in small Nebraska and Iowa towns, which developed his passion for numbers and a love for community banking. That passion steered the Stinner family—wife Rita, daughter, Cecilia and son, John—from Lincoln to Gering more than 27 years ago, where he and a group of investors helped start what is now Valley Bank & Trust.

Growing the bank to more than 12 locations, chairing the Nebraska Bankers Association and serving on numerous civic groups gave Stinner the deeper understanding of community needs necessary to be an advocate for others, he said.

Joining the Nebraska Unicameral seemed to be the appropriate next step, Stinner said.

“If you want to make a positive impact on your district, the Legislature is one of the best ways to do that,” Stinner said. “It’s important to have a strong voice for western Nebraska.”

Stinner said he hopes to transfer his business skills to his new job as a legislator to “get in front of problems” such as economic development and property tax relief for western Nebraskans.

His fellow senators appear to have the same drive to get things done in their districts, he said.

“I’m impressed with everybody,” Stinner said. “They’re friendly, but committed to do the right thing.”