Gary B. Cook was born on June 12, 1938 in Los Angeles California to Bob and Doddie Cook. He was the middle son of three brothers, Don and Craig. As a young boy, his family moved to Balboa Island opening Dot and Bob’s Candy Shop. He enjoyed boating, surfing, fishing and life on the beach in Balboa. He attended Newport Harbor High School where he excelled on the swim team. During high school he also became interested in building race cars as a hobby.
After high school Gary joined the Air Force and married his first wife Donna. They had two children, Kathryn and Lori. The Air Force offered him the opportunity to hone his engineering skills working on aircraft.
He worked at Cervonics Instruments in quality control for several years after the Air Force. In 1963-1964 he built dragsters with his brother Don, Jeff Jahns and Pete Hedges. Eventually his hobby building race cars led to a job working for Carl Haas and Roger Penski building Can Am and Indy Cars. He loved the excitement and fast pace of the racing scene for several years.
He met and started dating Kay Fenner in 1967; they were married April 26, 1969. From 1968-1971 he managed Anaheim Golf Center and taught Junior Golf Clinics. He became an avid golfer during this time in his life. His first son Bob was born in 1971 and a second son Jeffrey in 1978.
In 1972, Gary and his brother Craig began designing and manufacturing BMX and Mountain Bikes and Cook Bros Racing was born. The success of Cook Bros is best expressed by the words of the American Bicycle Association.
1999 Gary Cook was inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame for his innovative bicycle designs and use of materials that have shaped BMX into the sport it is today.
He and Craig were also inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame as Mountain Bike Pioneers.
Cook Bros was sold in 1984 and three years later Dad and my brother Bob started manufacturing bicycle cranks, BMX and Mountain Bike under the name CQP. Once again it was well received by the bicycle industry and he sold the company in 1993 to pursue retirement.
Gary was a caring, gentle and honest husband and father. As he entered the gates of heaven he was greeted by two grandchildren lil’ Gary and Tiffany who preceded him in death. He will be greatly missed by his devoted wife Kay, four children Kathryn, Lori, Bob and Jeffrey; four grandchildren Jeremy, Misty, Cameron and Jason; six great grandchildren, Leana, Haley, Garret, Brooklynn, KJ and Emma and all of his extended family and friends.
Donations can be made in Gary’s memory to lil’ Gary's Legacy. lil’ Gary was his name sake and our family continues to share hope and resources on suicide prevention in his memory. Donations can be made on line at www.lilgaryslegacy.org or checks can be sent to:
Christian Resource Center
P.O. Box 80852
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Crested Butte History 
