Gary and his wife Kathy have been married for thirty-five years. They moved to Live Oak a few years ago from the small mountain community of Quincy, where they lived for twenty-seven years. The Balands have three grown children and four wonderful grandchildren. Gary recently retired as a Bridge Foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad at the end of 2009. Both Gary and Kathy are very active in the community through their involvement in the schools, planned civic events, and the Father's House Church.