
Gary taught music for 40 years in the Puyallup School District, including band at West Junior High School (now Aylen JHS) Rogers High School, and fifth- and sixth-grade bands and orchestra. During the years he taught elementary music, Gary co-directed the district honor band, and co-presented elementary band workshops at the 1999 ArtsTime and 2002 WMEA conferences. A graduate of Kelso High School, Gary earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in music education at Washington State University. Gary’s former colleagues and students praise him not only as an outstanding teacher but also an excellent musician who successfully engaged students to produce significant learning results. His dedication went far beyond the classroom; he made a positive impact on thousands of students. He played trumpet in the South Sound Symphonic Band.