Gary Funk - At a glance

I've lived in the San Joaquin Valley for most of my adult life.

I graduated from California State University, Long Beach, in 1977 with a degree in journalism. I specialized in photojournalism shooting for campus publications such as The Daily 49er and UniverCity magazine.

The Hanford Sentinel, Hanford, Calif., hired me in September 1977 as a general assignment photographer covering breaking news, sports, and enterprise stories.

I became more involved in page design, copy editing, and newspaper production as time went on as, in the end, those skills benefit the photo on the page. Eventually, I became an assistant news editor.

At the Yakima Herald-Republic, I worked as a copy editor and page designer before moving back to the Central Valley. The Bakersfield Californian took me on as a copy editor, page designer.

I ended my newspaper career at The Fresno Bee, where I worked as the newsroom's technology manager, helping editors, reporters, photographers, and artists make the transition into the so-called digital future.

I am married. My family is scattered throughout the West and Hawaii.