David F. Nolan, who founded the Libertarian Party along with a group of others in Nolan’s living room, died on November 21 at the age of 66. He had just completed a vigorous and relatively successful election campaign for the U.S. Senate this month, receiving 4.7% of the vote in a 4-person race against incumbent Senator John McCain. Nolan was two days away from his next birthday. He lived in Tucson.
Apparently he suffered a stroke while driving his automobile, on November 20. On a personal note, this is very sad news.
You are so right, Richard. This is very sad news.
Oh man, this is HORRIBLE news. David Nolan was an icon in the Libertarian Party as well as the greater Libertarian Movement. I spoke to him in person a few times and he seemed like a great guy. I always enjoyed reading his commentaries as well. He will be sorely missed. RIP.
I met him for the first, and only, time in Denver 2 years ago.
This is a sad day, one that hopefully, some years from now, when Liberty returns to the Earth, will be recognized, and honored as a holiday.
He is right there with Jefferson and the other founders of what was once the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, IMO.
Joe
This is a very sad day. David Nolan was a brilliant man in the Libertarian Party. I am glad to see that Joe, Andy, and Casual Bystander all seem to get it. RIP, David.
Very sad. He is the icon of the Libertarian Party and got politics pretty much right.
I am really sad to hear this news. He was an innovator and champion of liberty. My condolences to his family and friends.
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Inventor of the Nolan Chart, correct? http://www.nolanchart.com/index.php
I really appreciate his work and it is very sad to see him go so soon. This is the same way my 80+ year-old great aunt passed – stroke in her K-car. You and your family have my prayers, Gary. God bless.
Some people live long and uneventful lives. Others like David Nolan and Ron Crickenberger change the world in whatever brief moments they are among us. And a select few get miraculous second chances like Michael Badnarik. It is my belief that the Creator – God, who or whatever your religion may say it is – often calls us home early. However, as creatures of free will we are endowed with the right to reply with something like “aw shucks Daddy can’t I just play a little while longer” so long as we accept responsibility for whatever pain and suffering our failure to heed the advice may bring.
Human history is replete with names like Jesus of Nazareth or Joan the Maid of Lorraine. Their tragic deaths are often the spark that ignited revolutions. No one living today can ascertain the truth of those or countless similar stories from the past. However, it is a well established fact that legends have at least some basis in reality.
Faith tells me that David, Harry, Ron and the many other friends of Liberty I have known are now in a better place and time. If you believe human existence extends beyond mere biology and that there are such a things as a soul and truly inalienable rights, then it becomes possible to imagine that death is neither a beginning nor an end. In my view when people like David “pass” they are replaced with new earthly souls that pick up the banner and march on.
So must we.
My two favorite memories of David Nolan are as follows:
1) During the 2008 National Convention in Denver, Jim Duensing and his family organized a 9/11 Truth event called Libertarians for Justice (it was held on the first official day of the convention). Certain people in the party attempted to block it from happening. David Nolan took a stand in favor of the event taking place. I don’t know if David Nolan was a 9/11 Truther himself, but I appreciated the fact that he took a stand for free speech and freedom of assembly. When I saw David Nolan at the National Convention I went up to him and thanked him for taking a stand in favor of the 9/11 Truth event and I also thanked him for founding the Libertarian Party.
2) When I attended the Libertarian Party of Arizona State Convention in January of 2009 I got up and gave a short impromtu speech on the importance of starting ballot access drives early. David Nolan said that he agreed with everything that I said and he wrote out a check for $25 (which I forwarded to a state LP chapter). David Nolan was the only one in the room who donated that day.
I saw David Nolan from a distance at the Saint Louis Airport while I was waiting for my flight. I thought about going up and talking to him but then I got distracted for a few moments and by the time I looked back over where I had seen him walking he was gone. I thought to myself, “That’s OK, I’ll see him again at other events so this won’t be my last opportunity to speak to him.” Unfortunately, this obviously did not turn out to be the case.
RIP.
Nolan may have passed but his libertarian insights live on in the Libertarian Party and his Nolan Chart. Soon after his passing I hope he was greeted by Marshal Fritz who introduces David to kindred spirits such as our Founding Fathers, Ayn Rand, Karl Hess, and von Mises.
Thanks for your pioneering work, David.
May he rest in liberty…
66 is too young. My sympathies go out to all who knew him.
Sincere condolences to those who knew and loved David Nolan and to all members of the U.S. Libertarian community.
I couldn’t bear to comment when David died. We worked together closely in the earliest days founding the Libertarian Party. I foolishly thought we would someday collaborate on book about those days. David was 14 months my junior. It never occurred to me that he would pass before I do. I am still saddened.
David F. Nolan is an historic person.