Gary Ray Price was born in Brownwood, Texas on November 27, 1936 to Merl Price and Loree Wells Price, and went to be with his Lord on August 10, 2015.
Gary’s elementary school education began in Beaumont, Texas, during World War II, where his dad, Merl Price, worked in a defense factory. When World War II was over, the family returned to Brownwood. Gary later graduated from Brownwood High School in May of 1955 where he was in a cappella choir and ran track.
Following his high school graduation, Gary began his studies at Howard Payne College. After his freshman year in 1956, he transferred to the University of Houston for one year before returning to Howard Payne to finish college and receive his Bachelor of Science degree in 1960.
On June 28, 1958, Gary married Jarene Thomas at Calvary Baptist Church. Jarene is the granddaughter of Brown County pioneers, Grant and Lois Armstrong Thomas. Lois Armstrong Thomas came to Texas from Alabama in a covered wagon in 1873. Jarene, a native of Brown County, graduated from Early High School and Howard Payne College. Jarene taught school in the Early school system and also taught in the Waco school system, while Gary attended law school. From the union of Gary and Jarene Price, two sons were born, Kent Montgomery Price and Waren Corbeth Price.
Gary received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Baylor University School of Law in 1965. He served one four-year term as County Attorney of Brown County from 1969 to 1972, and served two four-year terms as District Attorney for the 35th Judicial District of Texas from 1973 to 1980. While County Attorney and District Attorney, Gary was also actively engaged in the private practice of law, and became Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In connection with his law practice, Gary was a member of the following organizations: Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow; Counselors Organization at Baylor School of Law; Texas Bar Association; the American Bar Association, and Brown County Bar Association.
Gary devoted many hours serving the community on various committees and boards, including service as president of the Brownwood Jaycees, director of the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce, director of the Heart of Texas Girl Scout Council, director of Texas Bank Brownwood, president of the Howard Payne Jacket Century Club, board member of the MacArthur Academy of Freedom, and board member of the Howard Payne Board of Trustees, where he proudly served for 21 years. Gary was recognized by Howard Payne University as an Outstanding Jacket Backer and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1973. He was also later featured in an article in The Baylor Line, the alumni magazine of Baylor University.
Perhaps the most personally gratifying accomplishment of Gary’s professional career was the enactment of the Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG). The TEG was a state funded grant that helped students at private colleges and universities offset the higher cost of tuition of private institutions over that of publicly funded state institutions. Gary was the creator of the TEG. He got the idea for the TEG while signing up for classes at the University of Houston. After graduating from Baylor Law School in 1965, he began to explore how he could make such a grant a reality. He worked tirelessly drafting the grant, and presenting the concept to the presidents of various private colleges and universities around the State of Texas. With their help and the work of state officials, the TEG was passed in 1971.
Gary was later recognized on multiple occasions for his creation of the TEG. In 1979 he received a Special Citation from the Private Colleges and Universities of Texas. He was also honored with a Plaque of Appreciation by the Church Related Colleges of Texas in a ceremony in Houston, Texas. In 1991 he was honored by Resolution of the Texas House of Representatives. Since its passage, the TEG has helped more than 100,000 students attend the private college or university of their choice. By 2010 more than $100 million had been allocated for students in Texas’ participating institutions, with more than $1.5 million benefitting students attending Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, Gary’s alma mater.
Gary was never content with sitting and doing nothing. He was always active and always involved in something. In addition to a very busy law practice, Gary was also very interested in commercial and residential real estate development. In 1977 he helped bring the Kroger food store to Brownwood as well as other retail establishments in the years that followed. One of his favorite hobbies was playing tennis. Gary built a tennis court at his home in Brownwood and spent countless hours playing tennis with friends and family over the years.
Gary was predeceased by his brother, Gerald Price, and his parents, Merl Price and Loree Wells Price.
Gary is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jarene Price; his son, Kent Montgomery Price, and wife, Melissa Elaine Harris Price, and their children, Thomas Luke Price and Loree Marie Price, of Lubbock, Texas; and his son, Waren Corbeth Price, and wife, Eren Rebecca Hodges Price, and their children, Jackson Parker Price and Wyatt Griffin Price, of Frisco, Texas; his brother, Dale Price, and wife, Carol Price, of Kemp, Texas; and his sister, Kay Price, of Dallas, Texas.
Visitation will be at Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Texas, on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The family will have a private burial service the morning of Thursday, August 13, 2015.
The funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church in Brownwood, Texas, on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
Condolences can be offered to the family at heartlandfuneralhome.net
