Robert "Bob" Nosler, chairman of Nosler, Inc. and patriarch of the Nosler family, passed away on Sept. 2, 2025. he was 79.
“It was with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of past board member Bob Nosler," NRA EVP/CEO Doug Hamlin said. "I had the privilege of knowing Bob for over 35 years. He was a gentleman and passionate about the protection of the 2nd Amendment rights of all law abiding citizens. My deepest condolences go out to Bob‘s wife, Joan, and the entire Nosler family.”
For more than four decades, Bob Nosler guided his family's namesake company through significant growth. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, Bob returned to Oregon and became the sixth employee of Nosler, Inc., the company founded by his father, John Amos Nosler, in 1948. He rose through the ranks, advancing from production manager to vice president to president and then finally serving as CEO before becoming chairman.
“Bob was more than a leader of this company—he was a mentor, a friend and the living connection between the foundation laid by our grandfather and the future we continue to build today,” said John R. Nosler, President. “We will honor his legacy by staying true to the principles he lived by—innovation with purpose, craftsmanship without compromise and a deep respect for the hunting tradition.”
Bob Nosler spearheaded the development of the Nosler family of cartridges, as well as successors to the company's popular and effective Partition bullet. One of his proudest achievements was returning Nosler, Inc. to full family ownership, a mission he accomplished in 1988. During his career and with his leadership, Nosler went from being a bullet manufacturer to offering a full line of bullets, brass, ammunition, rifles and unique cartridge designs.
Outside of the company, Bob Nosler was a leader in the shooting and hunting community. Beginning in 2012, he served on the NRA Board of Directors for several years. In 2016, the National Rifle Association honored Bob and his wife, Joan, as "Corporate Executives of the Year." He was also a supporter of Friends of NRA, the NRA Whittington Center, The Camp-Fire Club of America, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Oregon Hunters Association.
