Gary Palmer graduated from Fort Scott Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree in 2000 and graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing in 2003. He is the son of Ron and Shirley Palmer of Fort Scott.

Gary started his own professional photography studio, Captured Images Photography, when he was sixteen years of age. Captured Images is a cutting-edge studio catering to high school seniors, babies and children, families, and commercial print and advertising photography. His business services clients within a 100-mile radius of Fort Scott.

Gary is currently pursuing his Master Craftsman Degree, the highest degree a photographer can attain, in Professional Photographers of America (PPA). He must pass several tests, win at least 35 print merits, and teach other photographers at PPA-sponsored events.

Gary is very involved in the community, having been a member of Rotary Club since 1997 and serving as President this past year. He is also an active member of the Phoenix Committee, the Inside/Out Economic Development Committee, and the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce. He is on the City Commission Design Review Board, United Way Board, and a member of the Citizens Bank Advisory Board. Gary is the county leader of 4-H photography and is the Director of Missions at the First Baptist Church where he is a member.

Gary has received many awards for his photography including Novice of the Year in 2005 from the Kansas PPA and several print competition awards from the PPA, KPPA, and the Professional Photographers of the Ozarks. He was named a sponsored speaker for PPA conferences and seminars in 2007 by Miller’s Professional Imaging of Pittsburg, KS.

Gary will speak at the 5:00 p.m. graduation on Friday, May 15 in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus.