Gary has been a geek since 1958. This makes him the Original Geek. He received his first pair of extremely thick glasses at age 4 and the name calling began... "Four Eyes", "Coke Bottle Bottoms", etc. His Junior year of high school, he became 'Gary The Geek'. Not because the term 'Geek' meant anything like it does today. It was because of a very well known handicapper in Las Vegas, named 'Jimmy The Greek'. Jimmy The Greek, Gary The Geek. The name calling escalated. Short of a plastic pocket protector and adhesive tape on his glasses, he was a "GeeK".
Gary began his electronic training in Data Processing in 1971. For the techno-weenies, see Tech Specs. Upon enrolling at UAB in 1973, computers had just become a minor elective. He learned PL/I & RPG, but somehow, avoided the term 'Nerd' through this era. A few years ago, when he salvaged some files for Rick Burgess of the Rick and Bubba Show, Rick couldn't remember or pronounce Gary's last name.
	Rick saw Gary's personalized license plate, and remarked that if he gave a "shout-out" on the show for 1-P-C-Guru, would people know who he was talking about. Gary told him no, that was just his tag. This came about because when he received calls from secretaries about how to do this or that with their computer, he would tell them, click here, select that, now check that box, click the apply button, and ask "Now, did that fix the problem?". Their response would be, "Yes, wow, you are one P-C Guru". So Rick Burgess asked what other "nickname" did he go by. Gary told him, back in high school, he was called Gary The Geek. And so, the term Gary The Geek resurfaced and has stuck ever since.
Now, of course there is the famous Geek Squad, Nerd Herd, etc., but Gary remains the Original Geek.
As a 3rd shift Computer Operator in 1974, he could resolve program errors in the middle of the night for a Southeastern hardware wholesale company. In 1975 he took a new job as Computer Operator and subsequently worked his way up to Operations Supervisor for a short time. He then was given the opportunity for the position of Programmer Trainee, and climbed up through the ranks as Programmer, Senior Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Sr. Programmer Analyst, and System Integrator Specialist. Since the invention of the Personal Computer (PC), his talents have stretched across multiple platforms. So after designing, writing, testing and implementing batch and online mainframe applications for 25 years, he shares his knowledge of computers, software, trends, fads, pitfalls, data storage and the essential zeros and ones of computing on multiple levels. And with the power of the Internet, Gary has worked with many clients partnering their current and future computing needs while developing web sites and enhancing their marketing strategies. Yet, while Gary cannot know everything about the computer world, he has mountain of knowledge, endless resources and the exceptional ability to explain computer details to the everyday business owner, helping them to make smart I/T (information technology) decisions.
When Gary bought a virtual studio program, he began to record his own music. This began the courtship of his computer career and his hobby of music. Having engineered sound for live bands since his early teenage days, it was an easy transition from live music to a studio quality sound. He has recorded several "jingles" for the Rick and Bubba Show. See the music section for details. When he's not playing in a band, he can be found engineering sound for just about any band, at any musical function from a happenin' nightclub to an annual outdoor festival.
Various words of wisdom I like from different sources
I once asked the President of our High School graduating class to offer words of wisdom for a reunion one year. He gave me this answer, which is how I feel about offering up any words of wisdom I may have: "Asking me to recite some words of wisdom is like asking a blind man to describe a sunset".
When you meet a stranger, stick out your hand, shake his, and consider him a friend until he proves otherwise... because that is all you can ask of him. - Harold D. Chappelear
There are people who make things happen, There are people who watch things happen, And there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen. ---James Lovell, Astronaut
Life is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid. - John Wayne
Life is a journey, not a destination.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible.
Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.
Knowledge is a tool... Information is a weapon... Do not engage in battle unarmed.
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