Gary Ray Selby, Jr.

March 9, 1974 - October 4, 1992

Hello, my name is Holly, and I am one of Gary’s aunties’s. Gary was born on March 9, 1974 to my eldest sister and her husband, Gary Ray Selby, Sr. and Stephanie Selby. He also has a younger brother Dennis Selby, who now has two baby boys, Andrew Gary Selby and Alexander Selby. Andrew will be three years old and Alex is just five months old. Gary’s little nephews will never know their uncle Gary because of a drunk driver named Samuel Avalos Gallardo.

Gary Jr. was always so full of life. Always helping his mom with errands or just hanging out. Gary Jr. loved to moto-cross with his dad. Gary Sr. bought a brand new dirt so he could race. Gary Jr. graduated from Vanden High School in June of 1992. We were so proud of him. He was the first grandchild to be born and the first to graduate high school. Gary Jr. was the oldest of 5 grandchildren.

On October 3, 1992, Gary Jr. and his friends were going to Reno, Nevada to watch some bike races. His mom and dad were at the football field where Gary said “Good-Bye”. Stephanie kissed him and told him she loved him and to be careful.

That was the last time that my sister and brother in-law saw him alive. On October 4, 1992, Gary and his friends met 2 girls and had offered to drive them home. Gary was driving his friend Troy’s car; Troy was in the passenger side and the girls in the back. While on the highway a car driven by a drunk driver was driving on the wrong side of the road. There was a small incline and that’s where they hit head-on killing my nephew instantly. Gary never knew what hit him, and never had a chance. This crash took place at around 4 or 5 a.m. I received a phone call from one of my other sisters telling me of Gary’s death. I’m sure you all can imagine the terror that ran through my body. My beautiful nephew taken away from us so young and so precious.

We later learned that the drunk driver was an illegal from Mexico and that his blood alcohol was 3x’s the legal limit. That’s when the anger set in. This drunk driver was in our Country illegally and killed my nephew.

The whole family truly misses Gary Jr. so much that words cannot explain. A precious life taken in an instant in such a senseless tragedy.

This drunk driver received a 40-year sentence, 20 for the death and 10 years for each bodily injury to Gary’s passengers, which ran concurrent to the 20 years. Then comes the next slap in the face. The drunk driver escaped from prison serving less than 6 months of his sentence. To date he is still out there running free thinking that he got away with murder.

Gary Ray Selby Jr., deserves that justice be served. That is why I have vowed to see that this man is brought back to justice and serve his full sentence.

Please pass the word, that Drinking and Driving is not and will not be tolerated. Take the keys away and call the person a cab. The life you save may be your own.

I am still actively doing everything in my power to bring Samuel Avalos Gallardo back to prison where he belongs. I will not rest until justice is done in the name of my beloved nephew.

GARY RAY SELBY, JR.

CALLING ALL ANGELS

Gary Selby, Jr., was just eighteen–muscular, strong, and tall,
With big brown eyes and dark brown hair, but his smile was best of all.
Some people called him a gentle giant, with laughter, charm and wit.
People always greeted him everywhere he went.

He loved his younger brother. They used to wrestle and fight.
He loved to help his mother and he was her delight.
Gary raced in motor cross, played Pop Warner football, too.
He was an avid Raiders fan, athletic through and through.

Gary had a host of friends, a passion for life and fun.
You could hear the beat of his great big heart,
and his song had just begun.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Who’ve loved him long and well.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Hear the tolling bell.

One bright October day, when the sky was clear and blue.
In Vacaville, California, there were family things to do.
Gary and his family attended a football game.
His mom worked the concession booth. Some of Gary’s friends were there.

Before he left on his trip, he shook his brother’s hand,
Picked up his mom and kissed her and hugged dad man-to-man.
“Please be careful,” said his mom, “I wish you’d change your plans.”
But Gary assured her he’d be all right, as she kissed him once again.

He said good–bye to each of them on that fateful day.
Their eyes were on him all the while as he turned and walked away.
“Good–bye, my dearest family, Good-bye, little brother,
Good-bye to you, my wonderful dad, Good-bye, my precious mother.”

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

The Selby’s will need you soon.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Beneath the autumn moon.

Gary and his friends drove to Reno, Nevada, about three hours away,
They watched a BMX bike race, hung out and enjoyed the day.
By morning he was taking two girls to their homes,
The sun had not yet risen and all the streetlights shone.

They were in Troy’s Pontiac, traveling highway 80 West that day.
Unknown to them a Renegade Ford was heading right their way.
The Ford was going the wrong way and traveling very fast.
It almost hit a tanker truck filled with poisonous gas.
Cars ahead were swerving; Gary’s friends in their truck did, too.
But Gary, just behind them, had no place to get through.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Please hover near.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

The final moment is here.

Headlights upon them,
Eyes filled with fear,
A head-on collision,
No time to veer.
The crunching of the metal,
Cars slid and spun.
Smoke in the chilled air,
The deed was now done.
A dreadful silence,
Not even a cry.
Were they still living?
Did anyone die?

Soon sirens sounded. There was help on the way.
Paramedics searched the cars, wrote what they had to say.
They found Gary in his seat, just behind the wheel.
They checked him for any sign of life as he sat
Bleeding, unconscious, and still.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Come and hold him close.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

You who loved him most.

At five o’clock they pronounced him dead and cut him from the car.
They then removed the injured. The hospital wasn’t far.

The other driver was wedged in. He could not move at all.
And around him hung an odor, the strong smell of alcohol.
He had been drinking and driving and this was no accident.
He’d made a choice; he’d taken a life. His crime was evident.

Everyone survived but Gary, the Selby’s much–loved son.
He was taken to the coroner where an autopsy was done.
He died from blunt force trauma. “He went quickly”, the coroner said.
A teen with so much left to give, with most of his life ahead.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Soon they will hear the news.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

You have no time to lose.

The funeral was on a Thursday in Gary’s small hometown.
Where everyone was grieving beside the fresh mound.
The grounds keeper at the cemetery saw his mother visit each day.
She said, “There’s a hole in my stomach and in my heart that will not go away.
Our family is forever torn apart. We will never be the same.”
And she wept for him a mother’s tears and softly spoke his name.

There is no poem adequate to describe their despair.
How much they missed their firstborn son. How they longed to have him there.
His dad had planned to race with him. Now the dream had died.
He thought about the brand new bike his son would never ride.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Come and ever stay.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Come dry the tears away.

The drunk driver, when out of the hospital, was charged with DUI.
Several counts, involuntary manslaughter, for he’d caused a man to die.
His trial was set but he made a plea, “Guilty,rdquo; he said to the court.
As he faced his sentencing, it was agreed, there would be no bail to report.

Gary’s family had been working to see that justice was done.
The driver was sentenced to forty years. Gary’s cause had won!
“We’re happy our efforts have paid off though we’ve been torn apart.
It’s finished in the courtroom but never in our hearts.”
“I didn’t want a life for my son’s life,” said Gary’s dad in his pain,
“I wanted this man to never harm another soul again.”

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Stay close and hold them up.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Tell them to never give up.

The drunk driver served less than a year, then escaped and disappeared.
He hasn’t been found to this very day, and THIS is the TENTH year!

Gary’s Auntie Holly has kept up the fight to see justice done.
She’s

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Until this fight is won.

It was a senseless murder. It was a preventable crime.
If that driver had been responsible, Gary would not have died.
Someone sober should have been at the wheel.
No one ever has a right to drink, drive, and kill.

Help us get the word out. THERE’S A CRIMINAL AT LARGE!
Come join in the battle. Help us lead the charge.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Calling you all to join in.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Let’s see that justice wins.

This man is a fugitive and he must be found.
We want him on Most Wanted. He should be in prison now.

CALLING ALL ANGELS
CALLING ALL ANGELS

Do all that you can do.
Just remember Gary,
AND BE AN ANGEL, TOO.

by Laura,
© Alcohol Free Kids (alcoholfreekids.com), 2001. All rights reserved. Questions about the use of this poem should be directed to
Gary’s aunt (Holly Bayol).

In memory of Gary Ray Selby, Jr., 18
(March 9, 1974 – October 4, 1992)

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Always Loved ~ Never Forgotten ~ Forever Missed ~

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