Museum Director Gary Coombs was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., a second-generation native.

He attended local schools and UC, Santa Barbara, before going on to graduate school at UCLA, where he earned his Ph.D. degree, in anthropology. Dr. Coombs also holds a graduate certificate in museum studies from the Univ. of Delaware.

He taught briefly at UCLA and the Univ. of New Mexico, before returning home to become executive director of the Institute for American Research, an independent non-profit organization.

Gary joined Goleta Beautiful's board of directors in 1980 and became chairman of its Goleta Depot (preservation) committee. After the successful reopening of the historical landmark at its new home at Lake Los Carneros County Park, Coombs became the founding director of the South Coast Railroad Museum — a position that he still holds.

Dr. Coombs has conducted research on a variety of subjects in archaeology, local history, and social anthropology. He has published a number of books, journal articles, and other works in these various subject areas.

Gary has two daughters and, at last count, seven grandchildren.