Gary Hines was raised in the Cascade mountains of northern California. After working summers in the building trade from early grammar school through high school, he began seasonal work with the U.S. Forest service in fire and recreation while attending college. After graduation, he went to work full time for the Forest Service in administration, initially never intending a life long career with the agency.
The arts, particularly writing, songwriting and music, have always been his primary focus. After several years with an acoustic folk group in San Francisco and composing a film score for the 1974 Spokane World’s Fair, he eventually accepted public information work on a national forest in California. Throughout that period, he also freelanced as an audio/visual consultant which included sound design for professional theatre productions and some acting opportunities.
Twelve years later, in 1988, Pinchot, written and solely developed by Gary, and originally intended for local campers, "took off." He was soon performing it around the country. That led to a reassignment to Grey Towers National Historic Landmark, Gifford Pinchot’s ancestral home, where Gary subsequently became its deputy director.
He has received many awards for his work, including the Department of Agriculture's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, and a national merit award from former Forest Service Chief, Mike Dombeck.
In 2001, Gary changed careers and "retired" from the Forest Service but still performs this version of the production. He currently lives on the coast of northern California.
He is the author of several published books for children, as is his wife, Anna Grossnickle Hines, a professional author and illustrator with over sixty published books to her credit. They have three grown daughters.