Gary Rees was prominent San Diego businessman and a dedicated member of the LGBT community. Rees came to San Diego as an ensign in the Navy in 1971 and became one of the co-founders of The Center while still serving in the military. Rees also helped establish The Center’s military counselling program and served as The Center’s Executive Director following his discharge as an officer from 1974-1975. Rees was highly invested in San Diego’s LGBT community and was deeply involved with community programs. He was chairman and director of San Diego Walks for Life, one of the founders of the AIDS Assistance Fund, and a co-founder of the Lesbian and Gay Archives (now known as Lambda Archives). Rees actively fundraised for the Center, AIDS Walk, the Briggs Initiative, and any other civil rights cause or political campaign that benefitted the LGBT community. As a fundraising effort, Rees created the Nifty Fifty Club in which businesses or individuals pledged $50 a month for a year to pay for costs relating to San Diego Walks for Life. Gary Rees died on August 13, 1990 of complications relating to AIDS at the age of 43.

.5 linear feet

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