Educator, former Indiana congressman, civil servant.
Gery received his bachelor’s degree in history from Purdue University in 1966 and his master’s degree in education from Indiana University in 1968.
Upon graduation, Gery began his teaching career in the history department of West Lafayette High School where he taught from 1968-1980.
Gery was elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1974 and was re-elected five more times, retiring in 1998. While in the Senate, he served on the five-member State Budget Committee for twenty years, six years as chairman. Among the many Senate committees Gery served on during his career were the Senate Finance committee and the Senate Education Committee. His legislative accomplishments include sponsorship of a major education reform bill under Governor Orr in 1987 and the creation of Prophetstown State Park in Tippecanoe County, which opened in 2004.
In 1998, Gery retired from the State Senate and joined Governor O’Bannon’s staff as Executive Assistant. While there, he worked on economic development legislation, including the creation of the 21st Century Research and Technology fund, the expansion of community health centers, a new agency created to reduce tobacco use, and major tax restructuring.
Gery has served in many volunteer capacities. He has been on the board of the Greater Lafayette Community Foundation, which he chaired for two years and co-chaired a YWCA building fund drive. He has served on Purdue’s Nursing Advisory Board and with Purdue’s Technical Assistant Program. Currently, Gery serves as a member of the Tippecanoe County Parks Board and volunteers at a youth golf camp, Food Finders, and Miller Elementary School in Lafayette.
Among the honors Gery has received over his long career of service are the Sagamore of the Wabash by Governors Evan Bayh and Frank O’Bannon, the Order of the Griffin -Purdue’s highest non-academic award – by President Steve Beering, and the President’s Award from the National Association of State Park Directors for his leadership in the creation of Prophetstown, Indiana’s newest State Park.
A fond memory of Gery’s high school years was winning the Sportsmanship Award in both 1961 and 1962, which was voted on by his basketball teammates. Other memories were creating his insect collection for freshman biology, defeating Lafayette Jeff in basketball his sophomore year, and caddying for Jack Nicklaus! His favorite classes were government, history, and English literature, but his favorite teacher was Dr. Ken Bush, his biology teacher, who was a “good guy plus with a sense of humor.”
Gery writes, “The community and school system provided a safe environment for education and was supportive of education. The whole community, parents, neighbors, etc. said education was important.”