Gary was born in the state of Alabama, county of Walker, city of Jasper. Walker county sits atop the Warrior-River coal basin which is the largest deposit of coal in the world. He grew up in coal country. Gary is an ordained Southern Baptist pastor. Before he finished high school, he decided that he did not want to join his family and friends in the coal mines, so he went to college. The greatest, most wonderful experience of his time at college was meeting and falling in love with Amy, his wife of 37 years. The company his wife worked for at that time offered her a position in California - so they loaded up the truck and came to California. Moving to California has always been viewed with a touch of suspicion within his family. For his part, he has never looked back.