Lone Star College Foundation received $100,000 to support LSC-Kingwood's new Fire Training Pavilion in honor of Gary Lee Staley, a firefighter who passed away in the line of duty. The dedication ceremony was held Aug. 5 at LSC-Kingwood.
"Lone Star College-Kingwood is truly honored to dedicate our new fire pavilion after Gary, whose passion and dedication to community service and the fire profession will be a tremendous inspiration to and an incredible role model for our students," said Melissa N. Gonzalez, Ph.D., LSC-Kingwood president.
Staley joined the Porter Fire Department in 2000 and participated in over 300 fire calls while working full-time as an accountant for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Then in 2003, the dedicated son, brother and father passed away in an explosion while bravely rescuing his brothers in service from a burning building. Devastated, Gary's parents, Don and Ruby Staley, turned their grief into hope and opportunity. They started the Gary Staley Memorial Fund and soon created an endowed scholarship with Lone Star College Foundation.
Read more about Gary’s story at GaryStaleyMemorial.com.
"The foundation will always be grateful for the Staleys' incredible ability to turn their pain and their son's lifelong dream into helping Lone Star College students become trained firefighters," said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSC Foundation executive director. "Their commitment to honoring Gary's memory while helping others in the process is an inspiration to others and the epitome of what Lone Star College Foundation strives to do."
The Gary Lee Staley Fire Pavilion at LSC-Kingwood is located next to the Fire Science Burn Building, which will open for student training in spring 2026. There were nearly 100 people who attended the dedication ceremony, including LSCS Board of Trustees members, Mike Sullivan, chair; Iesheia Wilson, secretary and Jim Cain, Ed.D.; firefighters who either served with Gary or heard his story and scholarship recipients. Other attendees were Gary's parents, brother, Matthew, daughter, Courtney and her family, and other Staley family members and friends.
"Gary was an extremely dedicated and hard-working volunteer firefighter who took the craft to another level," said Carter Johnson, Montgomery County Emergency Service District # 6, Porter fire chief. "His commitment, passion and dedication continue to set an excellent example for students, especially those who seek a career as a firefighter." Johnson served with Gary when they were both volunteer firefighters and also sits on the Gary Staley Foundation Board.
The Gary Staley Memorial Fund was initially established to provide scholarships to current firefighters pursuing advanced training. However, partnering with the Lone Star College Foundation, the fund now helps students enrolled in the fire science program at LSC-Kingwood and LSC-Montgomery.
"The scholarship program offered through the Lone Star College Foundation Endowment Program was a natural opportunity for the Gary Staley Memorial Fund to expand its reach to deserving applicants," said the Staleys. "Joining the college’s foundation honors Gary’s legacy by fostering the next generation of dedicated public servants."
To date, the Gary Staley Memorial Fund has awarded more than $90,000 in grants to nearly 200 students, including Jorden Araujo, seeking a college education. Araujo, a U.S. Navy veteran, learned about Gary's heroism during his time at LSC-Kingwood, prompting him to follow in Gary’s footsteps.
"When I first started the fire science program at Lone Star College, I quickly discovered that it was a physically taxing program. I was coming home tired and ready to give up," said Araujo, who also earned the Gary Staley Award when he graduated in May 2024. "But as I looked into Gary’s story, I learned that he didn’t quit. And because he didn’t quit, I told myself that I couldn’t quit. I continue to carry his memorial coin in my pocket to remind me of the sacrifices he made, which inspires me to keep going despite the obstacles I have faced or will face in the future."