Gene and his wife, Melody, have three children, Brandon, Holli, and Layne, and one granddaughter, Brynn. He has served as a Deacon of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene and Elder of the 16th & D Church of Christ in Muleshoe.
Gene completed his B.S.Ed. And M.S.Ed. from Abilene Christian University and Ed.D. from Texas Tech University. He taught math in Abilene ISD and served as Principal at Abilene Christian High School before becoming Superintendent in Hedley ISD, Hamilton ISD, and 15 years as Superintendent in Muleshoe ISD.
Gene was named Texas Administrator of the Year by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association in 2009; President of the Texas Association of Rural Schools from 2010-2013; President of the Muleshoe Rotary Club in 2005; a member of the state policy committee that developed the current accountability system; member of the Legislative Committee for the Texas Association of School Administrators; and currently the State Director for the Academic Challenge Scholarship Contest for the Texas Association of Community Schools.