Personal Biography

Gary Clark, a retired entrepreneur from the specialty food industry, was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. He completed his education at Edgewater High School in 1956 and went on to graduate from The Citadel, a prestigious military college in Charleston, South Carolina, with a degree in Business Administration.

Throughout his early adulthood, Gary, with his wife Laura, focused on raising a family and building a successful sales career, while also pursuing his passion for painting whenever possible. Motivated by the desire to be his own boss, Gary ventured into various entrepreneurial projects. These efforts culminated in the creation of a thriving specialty food manufacturing company that marketed its products under the brand name Lysander’s. They invested countless hours in their test kitchen, developing new products with recipes they devised themselves. After twenty-two years at the company, they sold their Sanford, Florida-based business in 2001. It was the epitome of a family-operated venture, marked by years of commitment and strong relationships with both relatives and employees.

 Gary has three adult children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He shares his life with his partner, Judy Miner, who is an artist as well. Together, Gary and Judy have nurtured and shared a passion for painting for more than twenty years.