Gary was born in Tyrone in 1963, son of Bill and Betty McGovern. 

He graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1981.  After graduation from Penn State University with a degree in Electronics Engineering, he worked briefly at WTAJ-TV on the technical staff. 

He then joined Locus Incorporated, a telecommunication firm, in State College and was a member of the technical staff until 1992.

From 1992 to 1997, Gary worked as Sales Manager for Maxtech, Incorporated in State College.  In 1997, he was involved in formation of Paradise Datacom and was Vice President of Sales until 2004. (Maxtech and Paradise are both telecommunication companies.) 

In 2004, Gary was a co-founder of Locus Microwave, a design & engineering firm in Boalsburg, Pa. providing product and services to government and military programs.

Gary has served as Youth director at First English Lutheran church since 1980 and has served as public address announcer for Tyrone Football games since 1992. 

Gary was the 1998 commencement speaker for the TAHS graduating class.

He served as Vice President of Tyrone Borough council from 1997 to 2000.

Gary has 2 children, Alison (11 years old) and Sean (8 years old) and is married to Tyrone native Lori (Arnold) McGovern.  He has a sister Darlene (Andrews) McGovern.