{{short description|American politician (1955–2016)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Troy Mader | image = | state_house = Wyoming | district = 52nd | term_start = February 11, 2014 | term_end = January 5, 2015 | predecessor = Sue Wallis | successor = William Pownall | birth_date = December 1, 1955 | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and given age|2016|7|14|60}} | death_place = Gillette, Wyoming, U.S. | party = Republican | spouse = Cindy Mader | children = 8 | relatives = Kelly Mader (brother) | alma_mater = | profession = Rancher, politician | website = }}

'''Troy R. Mader''' (December 1, 1955 – July 14, 2016) was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Wyoming House of Representatives, representing the 52nd district. He succeeded Sue Wallis in February 2014 following her death.

==Career== Mader operated a ranch.<ref name=beat>{{cite web|url=http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/new-lawmaker-from-gillette-marches-to-his-own-beat/article_4c245b78-a7dd-59c9-8200-d0c3a817ea98.html |title=New lawmaker from Gillette marches to his own beat |publisher=Trib.com |date=February 11, 2014 |accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref> He worked for the Abundant Wildlife Society of North America as a research director. In that role, he fought to prevent the restoration of the local wolf population by the federal government.<ref name=gillette/>

Under the name "T. R. Mader", he self-published a book on HIV/AIDS, titled ''The Death Sentence of AIDS'', in 1987 in which he suggested the "quarantine" of infected people who continue to have sex.<ref name=trib/> Receiving criticism of standing by the book, Mader stated in 2014 "I believe tolerance is characteristic of a person who hasn’t any virtue left."<ref name=huffpost1>{{cite web|title=Wyoming Rep. Troy Mader Under Fire For Gay, HIV/AIDS Claims Made In 1987 Book|date=March 17, 2014 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/troy-mader-hiv-aids-gay-_n_4979557.html|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref> He also stated that "many gay people demand the right to have sex with children."<ref name=Hancock1>{{cite web|last=Hancock|first=Laura|title='The Death Sentence of AIDS:' Newly minted Wyoming lawmaker stands by controversial book|date=March 16, 2014 |url=http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/the-death-sentence-of-aids-newly-minted-wyoming-lawmaker-stands/article_6f1708c1-998c-599d-a818-34818e045340.html|publisher=Wyoming's Tribune|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref>

Mader also served as a precinct captain for the Campbell County Republican Party.<ref name=gillette>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/news/local/article_381a26e4-928a-11e3-a31e-001a4bcf6878.html |title=Troy Mader is new state rep. – Gillette News Record: Local News |publisher=Gillette News Record |date=February 10, 2014 |accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref> Following the January 2014 death of Sue Wallis, who served the northern half of Campbell County in the Wyoming House of Representatives, Mader put his name forward as a potential replacement. The Campbell County Republican Party included Mader on their list of three finalists, which they forwarded to the Campbell County Commission, who voted to appoint Mader to serve the remainder of her term in February.<ref name=gillette/><ref name=wallis>{{cite web|url=http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/campbell-county-selects-troy-mader-to-replace-rep-sue-wallis/article_09dad4ee-3f5e-537a-82ca-dd0fba1d14f3.html |title=Campbell County selects Troy Mader to replace Rep. Sue Wallis |publisher=Trib.com |date=February 10, 2014 |accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref> He was sworn into the state House on February 11, 2014.<ref name=beat/><ref name=trib>{{cite web|url=http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/the-death-sentence-of-aids-newly-minted-wyoming-lawmaker-stands/article_6f1708c1-998c-599d-a818-34818e045340.html |title='The Death Sentence of AIDS:' Newly minted Wyoming lawmaker stands by controversial book |publisher=Trib.com |date= March 16, 2014|accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160916112213/http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LegislatorSummary/LegDetail.aspx?Source=H&LegID=2002 State of Wyoming Legislature-Troy Mader]</ref> He served on the House Revenue Committee and the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee.<ref name=wallis/>

==Personal life== Mader was from Gillette, Wyoming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wyofile.com/gregory_nickerson/troy-mader-gillette-will-take-seat-late-rep-sue-wallis/ |title=Troy Mader of Gillette will take seat of late Rep. Sue Wallis |publisher=wyofile.com |date= February 11, 2014|accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref> He and his wife had eight children.<ref name=beat/> His brother, Kelly Mader, was a former member of both chambers of the Wyoming Legislature who preceded him in death on June 24, 2016, due to a heart attack.<ref name=gillette/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/obituaries/article_89a50e67-a467-529e-b1d0-e9e20b224765.html |title=Kelly Forbes Mader |publisher=Gillette News Record |date= June 29, 2016|accessdate=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

Mader played guitar and wrote country music under the name "T. R. Mader".<ref name=beat/>

Mader died in an ATV accident while herding cattle on July 14, 2016. He was 60.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/news/local/article_b527d6e4-1b85-530a-b00f-c85357eeff5c.html|title=Troy Mader dies when thrown from 4-wheeler|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-15|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160717114315/http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/news/local/article_b527d6e4-1b85-530a-b00f-c85357eeff5c.html|archivedate=July 17, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/obituaries/article_b5cd3bd8-93b4-5457-8855-709e3eba4a03.html Troy Mader-obituary]</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{CongLinks|votesmart=149704}} *{{official website|http://www.freedomsstruggle.com/info/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mader, Troy}} Category:1955 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Republican Party members of the Wyoming House of Representatives Category:Politicians from Gillette, Wyoming Category:Ranchers from Wyoming Category:Songwriters from Wyoming Category:Writers from Wyoming Category:People who died in ATV incidents Category:21st-century members of the Wyoming Legislature Category:Road incident deaths in Wyoming