Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Painter was born in [[rural]] Amherst in Lamb County near Littlefield, Texas, one of two children of  Wayne Vearl Painter (1924-1991), and the former Ella Elizabeth "Beth" Pemberton (1925-2017). His sister, Jane P. Penningto, resides in [[Amarillo]], Texas. He was reared on a [[cotton]] and grain farm in Edmonson in Hale County. north of [[Lubbock]]. In 1965, he graduated from Plainview High School in Plainview, the seat of government of Hale County.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199464781/gary-wayne-painter|title=Gary Wayne Painter|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> From 1965 to 1966, he attended in Lubbock Draughons Practical Business College,<ref name=painterbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=14743|title=Gary Painter|publisher=txdirectory.com|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> since known as Daymar Institute. ​

Painter was born in [[rural]] Amherst in Lamb County near Littlefield, Texas, one of two children of  Wayne Vearl Painter (1924-1991), and the former Ella Elizabeth "Beth" Pemberton (1925-2017). His sister, Jane P. Penningto, resides in [[Amarillo]], Texas. He was reared on a [[cotton]] and grain farm in Edmonson in Hale County. north of [[Lubbock]]. In 1965, he graduated from Plainview High School in Plainview, the seat of government of Hale County.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199464781/gary-wayne-painter|title=Gary Wayne Painter|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> From 1965 to 1966, he attended in Lubbock Draughons Practical Business College,<ref name=painterbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=14743|title=Gary Painter|publisher=txdirectory.com|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> since known as Daymar Institute.

On September 1, 1966, Painter enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] and served two tours of duty in the former [[South Vietnam]]. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, the [Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Campaign Medal,  the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the United States Distinguished Service Medal. He was honorably discharged at the rank of [[sergeant]] on August 31, 1970, after exactly four years of service in the Marines.<ref name=painterbio/>​ Immediately after leaving the military, he  joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a highway patrol officer. Painter and his wife, the former Patsy A. Oaks (born 1949), had three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/patsy-painter/patsyapainter?valid=true&|title=Patsy A. Painter|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> A son, Justin Wayne Painter of Splendora in Montgomery County, Texas,<ref name=findagrave/> served in the [[United States Air Force]]. A daughter, Jennifer Lynn Painter, is a public safety dispatcher with the City of Midland. Painter was a  [[Southern Baptist]] and a member and the president from 2003 to 2004 of Lions International.<ref name=painterbio/>​

On September 1, 1966, Painter enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] and served two tours of duty in the former [[South Vietnam]]. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, the [Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Campaign Medal,  the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the United States Distinguished Service Medal. He was honorably discharged at the rank of [[sergeant]] on August 31, 1970, after exactly four years of service in the Marines.<ref name=painterbio/>​ Immediately after leaving the military, he  joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a highway patrol officer.<ref name=findagrave/>

 

Painter and his wife, the former Patsy A. Oaks (born 1949), had three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/patsy-painter/patsyapainter?valid=true&|title=Patsy A. Painter|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> A son, Justin Wayne Painter of Splendora in Montgomery County, Texas,<ref name=findagrave/> served in the [[United States Air Force]]. A daughter, Jennifer Lynn Painter, is a public safety dispatcher with the City of Midland. Painter was a  [[Southern Baptist]] and a member and the president from 2003 to 2004 of Lions International.<ref name=painterbio/>​

==Career==

==Career==