Gomer Pyles

The Plains, VA

Gomer Pyles was born in Los Angeles, CA. He attempted a predictable path but hated following a script. He met elders who encouraged the simple notion that he could be anything he wanted to be, including himself. Nudges and serendipity have been his guides through his life journey. After barely eking out of high school, Gomer became a carpenter and college student while volunteering as a counselor and youth organizer at his local YMCA. In 1973, he went on the road to force himself into random encounters with folks of all ilk’s. In 1980, Gomer participated in HikaNation, with his partner and 50 or so others. He pushed his 5.5 month old daughter in a cart fom San Francisco, CA to Lewes, DE, arriving 13.5 months later. Gomer came to The Plains, VA as a carpenter in June of 1981, got a yen to learn about computers in 1982, became the company’s full time computer guy in 1983, and started his own computer company in 1987. In August of 2009 he survived the ultimate “Brain Fart” commonly referred to as a stroke which gave him a child’s set of eyes–the eyes of awe and curiosity.