A 1973 graduate of Decatur's MacArthur High School, Gary Cook wrestled for four years. He attended Millikin University and was a 1977 graduate. He played four years of football at Millikin and was a three-year starter at middle linebacker. Gary played in two Boothill Bowl Games and was a member of Millikin's first CCIW football championship team. Gary was employed by Argenta-Oreana High School in 1978 and remained there his whole career. He served as a Physical Education teacher, assistant football coach and Head Wrestling Coach. From 1978-2015, Gary compiled a 570-258-3 dual meet record, mentoring 78 individual state qualifiers, two champions, five runners-up, and 18 total place winners. His 1986 team placed fourth in the IHSA Dual Meet State Tournament. His teams captured five individual Regional titles and one Sectional title. Gary was inducted into the Millikin University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 2003, and, in 2013, he was inducted into the Argenta-Oreana Athletic Hall of Fame. Gary was also selected as Decatur Herald and Review Coach of the Year seven times. He is a former IHSA Wrestling Rules Advisory Board member and IHSA Regional Representative. He has also been involved with Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation, AAU, USA Wrestling and Prairie State Games activities. Gary is a four-year volunteer wrestling coach at Monticello HS. At least five of his former wrestlers have gone on to be head high school wrestling coaches, and several others are assistant wrestling coaches.