[1] Nolan was admitted to the bar in 1958 and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960, attaining the rank of first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate Division.
[3] In 1977, Nolan ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Albany, losing the Democratic primary to longtime incumbent Erastus Corning 2nd.
[3] He also served on the board of directors of the State of New York Mortgage Agency, the Community Foundation for the Capital Region, and WMHT (TV).
[2] Nolan was chairman of the board of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and the Center for the Disability Services, and was a member of the Marine Corps League, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Albany Chamber of Commerce.
[2] In addition, he maintained an interest in horse racing, was the owner of several thoroughbreds, and served as president of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. and chairman of Breeders' Cup Ltd.[2][3] One Nolan initiative while in the senate combined his interest in criminal justice policy with his background in horse racing; In conjunction with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, he created the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in Wallkill, which provides sanctuary for retired racehorses and the opportunity for inmates to build life skills by participating in a vocational training program.