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Gary Reese was born in 1941 in the small, western Utah town of Frisco where his father worked as a hard rock miner. When Gary was two months old, the family moved to Panaca, a picturesque mining town in Lincoln County, Nevada about 120 miles from Las Vegas. Frisco, like many mining towns of its day, is now a ghost town.
Growing up in Panaca
 In Panaca, where Gary's father, Jack, mined silver, lead and mercury, the family managed a living the way everyone did then. There was a vegetable garden outside and hunting season meant meat could be stored up for the winter. There was no television reception and radio didn't always come in clearly. Except for the weekend movies at the Gem Theater in Pioche and the Rex Theater in Caliente, families made their own entertainment playing card games, working on projects or hobbies.
Gary hiked the hills around Panaca as a boy and developed a life-long love for the outdoors. Everyone hunted then, for sport but also to put meat on the table. Gary developed into a skilled hunter, although now he hunts with a camera and not a gun.
In school, Gary was an enthusiastic reader and very involved in sports. In high school, Gary lettered in football, basketball and track and competed on a regional level. His parents, Lulu and Jack, were his biggest fans, and Gary cannot recall them ever missing a game or sporting event he competed in.
College and searching for a career
 In 1959, Gary graduated from Lincoln County High School and accepted an athletic scholarship to Dixie College. A hip injury sidelined Gary and, without the scholarship money, his college career ended.
He moved to Las Vegas and found a job at the Nevada Test Site, working for Reeco as the manager of a housing unit used by workers at the Test Site. The long commutes to Mercury, Nevada and back became wearing, so, after three years of long drives, Gary began looking for other work.
A friend had recently opened a barbers' college in Salt Lake City and urged Gary to give it a try. Barbering appealed to Gary who liked both the work and the chance to visit with his customers. After graduating from barbers' college, Gary returned to Las Vegas and started work at The Plaza Barbershop where today he stands behind the same chair he began with forty-three years ago. As anyone in business can tell you, keeping a small business going for over forty years is quite a challenge.
Starting a family
Gary was married 1962 and the couple had three children, Terri, Sondra and Gary Jr. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce after seventeen years, and Gary raised the three children then ages 7, 9 and 13. As a single dad, Gary joined the PTA and stayed active in his children's schools. He coached youth team sports and was active in scouting programs. He eventually saw all three children through public school and and on to earn their college degrees.
A family death
In 1993 Gary's father died as a result of silicosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to dust. The Reese family suspects that Jack Reese's death was caused by exposure to mine dust, the "downwinder" exposure to above ground nuclear testing, and to his work at the Nevada Test Site. Gary Reese has become an outspoken opponent to high level nuclear storage here in Nevada, in part because of his own family's experience.
More children and grandchildren
 In 2000, Gary attended a church-sponsored singles dance where he asked school teacher Carol Bandley for a dance. They found they had much in common and began dating. On February 23, 2001, Gary and Carol married in Las Vegas. The marriage produced an instant "Brady Bunch" with Carol's six children and three grandchildren combined with Gary's three children and five grandchildren.
The combined families gives Gary even more reason to spend time with his grandchildren. Just as his parents supported him and attended his school team games, and as Gary did for his children, he is now involved with his grandchildren. He was recently quoted in a local newspaper saying, "There is only one first Little League game," and the grandchildren know Gary will be there to cheer them on.
Hobbies and interests
 Gary Reese's interest in youth sports and scouting didn't end as his children grew older. He remains active in scouting and coaching. He has raised and trained hunting dogs and loves the field work with a good dog. Reese is an avid sports shooter accomplished at trap and skeet shooting. That interest made him one of the strong supporters for a new, safe, sports shooting range north of Las Vegas.
With several family members, Gary purchased a small ranch outside of Panaca where the family goes for weekend excursions. They ride ATV's, play cards and spend time with the children and grandchildren. Gary hopes that small house, a link not only to his past, but to his grandchildren, will stay in the family forever.
Dedicated to public service
 As a barber, Gary Reese often discussed local politics with his customers. Many of them urged him to get involved and make a difference.
Reese began by serving on the City of Las Vegas Board of Zoning Adjustment. After two years, he was appointed to the Las Vegas Planning Commission. In 1995, Reese ran for Las Vegas City Council for the first time and defeated the sitting councilman. He was re-elected in 1999. In November of 2000, he was appointed to take on the additional duties of Mayor ProTem. Reese ran again successfully in 2003.
As a councilman, Reese has served on a number of committees. In addition to his work on the city council, Gary Reese served on . . .
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Committee on Fiscal Affairs
- Clark County District Board of Health, former Chair
- City of Las Vegas Southern Nevada Enterprise Consortium
- City of Las Vegas Real Estate Committeee
- City of Las Vegas Citizens Advisory Committee on Downtown Redevelopment
- City of Las Vegas Senior Citizens Advisory Board
- City of Las Vegas Liquor and Tavern License Committee
- Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County
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