Born and raised in Kingsburg, Gary, has lived here all of his life. As a kid he was in 4-H, which probably started his community service involvement and stayed involved in many community projects throughout the City of Kingsburg. A graduate from Reedley College, Gary transferred to California State University, Fresno receiving a BS in Ag Education and received his Master Degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Ag Horticulture. He was an Ag Teacher at Central Unified School District for 34 years and was recognized in 2001 as Agriculture Teacher for Fresno County.  In 2011 he was selected as the California Teachers Association (NEA-CTA) nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Award and received the award in Washington, D.C.    Keeping with his passion for community service, Gary joined the Kingsburg Historical Society in 1982 and served the organization for the next 26 years. As a grant writer for the Society, he applied and received for the Society over 6.3 million dollars in grants.  Monies went for building improvements, landscape developments and the addition of a social hall for the community to use.  He found time also to be involved with Tree Fresno Advisory 1998- present and in 2013 received the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Brother of the Century Award, California Foundation for Ag in the Classroom Award and the California Association of Nurserymen, Bert Kallman Educator Award and was inducted into the Big Fresno Fair Hall of Fame.

His retirement has lead him into teaching part-time for Fresno Unified School District, teaching Ornamental Horticulture to seventh and eighth graders at Kings Canyon Middle School.

Gary continues to farm his family grape vineyards and enjoys working in his yard.

Gary says he is proud of all that has been accomplished in our community over the years and looks forward to being a board member for the Kingsburg Tri-County Health District and working towards improving Kingsburg medical services.