Ensign, John E. (John Eric), 1958-

ENSIGN, John Eric, a Senator and a Representative from Nevada; born in Roseville, Placer County, Calif., March 25, 1958; graduated E.W. Clark High School, Las Vegas, 1976; attended University of Nevada 1979; B.S., Oregon State University, Corvalis 1981; D.V.M. Colorado State University, Fort Collins 1985; owner, West Flamingo Animal Hospital, Las Vegas 1987; general manager, Gold Strike Hotel and Casino 1991; general manager, Nevada Landing Hotel and Casino; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fourth and One Hundred Fifth Congresses (January 3, 1995-January 3, 1999); was not a candidate in 1998 for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives; was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1998; elected to the United States Senate in 2000; reelected in 2006 and served from January 3, 2001, until his resignation on May 3, 2011; chair, National Republican Senatorial Committee (2007-2008), Republican Policy Committee (2009).

<p>John Eric Ensign (born March 25, 1958) is an American veterinarian and former politician from Las Vegas, Nevada. A member of the Republican Party, Ensign was a Congressman and United States Senator from Nevada; he served in the latter seat from January 2001 until May 2011, when he resigned amid a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into his attempts to hide an extramarital affair. Following his resignation from the Senate, Ensign returned to Nevada and resumed his career as a veterinarian.</p>

<p>Ensign was born in 1958 in Roseville, California, to Sharon Lee Cipriani (whose father was Italian) and a father whose surname was Mueller. Ensign's father abandoned the family when Ensign was four years of age; Ensign then moved with Cipriani to Nevada. Cipriani later married Michael S. Ensign, a gaming industry executive; he formally adopted young John, who considers him his "real father." The senior Ensign later became chairman of the board of directors of Mandalay Resort Group,</p>

<p>John Ensign attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, becoming a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1985 and entered veterinary practice soon after. Ensign became a successful businessman, opening a 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas. He owned two animal hospitals before entering politics.</p>

<p>I spent my childhood in northern Nevada, later moving to southern Nevada where I graduated from Clark High School. My love of animals began at age eight with my best friend Fred, a mutt that I owned with my brother, later buying the half share of Fred for $5. I ran away from home once with Fred, who was the only one who understood why.</p>

<p>My interest in veterinary medicine was sparked in the 6th grade through a friend’s father who owned a practice. Fast forward to an internship at a local vet’s office while attending UNLV and I knew that caring for animals was my calling, changing my major from marketing to Pre Vet. I transferred to Oregon State University where I received a Bachelor’s Degree and went on to earn my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University.</p>

<p>Upon graduating, I completed a one-year internship at the prestigious West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group. I then moved back home and opened the first 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.</p>