Gary spent much of his law enforcement career working with youth.  He started out working with elementary school students as "Officer Friendly," and he then continued working with high school students as a Police School Counselor.  As a supervisor, he headed up a Community Service Division, he started programs for mentoring  at-risk youth, and he started the Police Cadet Program.  He directed Juvenile and DARE officers and School Resource Officers and develop training for one of the country's first Public School Crisis Response Teams.  Additionally, he served with local university staff on the Illinois State University Student Crisis Response Team.  Gary initiated and developed the department's Citizen Police Academy, which included young people age 15 and up.  He also supervised the department's University Internship Program.

He served as group leader for International Law Enforcement Educational Exchanges with the Norfolk Constabulary (England and the Russian Interior Ministry (Vladimir, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia).  He conducted law enforcement training in Community Policing at Police Training facilities in the Kent Constabulary, England, and in Vladimir, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.  He continues to serve as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice.

First joining the Normal (Illinois) Rotary Club in 2002, Gary retired to Maine in 2003 and joined the Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle.  He and  past Rotary club president Dr. Judy Speers are frequent presenters on the Family of Rotary, Membership, and Fun Fundraisers at district assemblies and conferences.  The couple served as District Conference CoChairs in 2010. Gary and Judy are also Paul Harris Fellows.  Gary is pleased to be serving as District 7780's District Governor in 2011-12.