RADIO CAREER

Listeners liked the music and playing the trivia contests became a nightly ritual. It was not unusual for Gary to receive between 200-300 calls during each show. In 1988, Gary moved the show to WEED radio, a more powerful station in Rocky Mount. It was at this time, he received his first award in Gospel radio; DJ Of The Year (small market), from the Eddie Crook Company, Goodlettsville, Tennessee. In 1989, Gary began demonstrating his unique ability of promotion. In addition to his nightly show, he also did the morning show for WLLY in neighboring Wilson, North Carolina. He had the idea of doing a live remote broadcast from an automobile dealership while seated in a car, held by a crane. 

The idea was sold to a local dealer and for four hours, Gary did his remote, some 85 feet in the air. The owner of the crane company was so amazed at the idea, he donated the use of the crane. Gary received his second award in Gospel radio when he accepted the Favorite Southern Gospel DJ Award during the Singing News Fan Awards in 1989. It was this same year that Gary developed the syndicated version of the program which was heard on nearly 50 stations and was one of the ten nominees (syndicated radio category) in the Singing News Fan Awards (1990).

In 1991, Gary accepted the Management position at WPGT radio in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Time became a factor and soon Gary had to cease production on his syndicated program. This year brought Gary to his third award, The Showcase Award , from Showcase media. The WPGT experience was very rewarding. Gary developed the "WPGT Concert Series" and soon groups like Gold City, The Bishops, Greater Vision, Karen Peck & New River, and Perfect Heart were performing in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.

In 1992, Gary received the Golden Mic Award from Singing News Magazine. In 1993, Gary implemented his most difficult fundraising event. He contacted the Guiness Organization in New York and had them send the guidelines for setting an endurance record. He decided to shoot basketball for 24 consecutive hours to raise money for the station. Under Guiness regulations, a person in an endurance category would receive a five minute rest period after each 60 minutes. So, at 7:00 on a Friday morning, Gary began shooting baskets at a local middle school in Roanoke Rapids. At 9:00 the following morning, the ordeal was over.

NBA Hall of Famer, David Thompson, was on hand to help Gary through the final hour. David then spoke to area youth about the dangers of drug abuse and how Jesus Christ had been the answer in his life. Of course, it was an "unofficial" Guinness record. Guinness required more witnesses than were available throughout the event. The record was not the important thing. The event was just a tool to use to tell people about Jesus Christ and how he can change lives. The day concluded with a concert featuring Perfect Heart. As an added treat, Gary even got a chance to sing bass on a couple of songs with the group. Mike Presnell did not make the trip and they asked Gary to sing with them.

It's amazing he could even stand up after all he had endured the previous day. It was nothing compared to what Gary had to face in the months to come. Two tragic experiences occurred in 1993 that proved to be the most difficult time in Gary's life. He had his own "wilderness experience", but God is faithful and brought him through the storms. 

Since then, Gary has developed the Southern Gospel USA website, which has received more awards than any other southern Gospel site on the Internet. In the Spring of 2000, Gary developed The Southern Gospel USA Countdown Show, which features the Top 5 songs of the week, compiled from reporting stations all across America.  The show made its debut on June 2, 2000, and can now be heard on radio stations all across the United States.