Gerald Jerry Dow was born a few weeks just before the invasion of Normandy (we're talking world War II, that's old) in Worcester, Massachusetts. After military service and a few odd jobs Jerry moved to Santa Barbara California, California to attend Brook's Institute of Photography In Santa Barbara he also continued his service to youth as a Scoutmaster, but more importantly at age 23 gave his life to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Over the years Jerry worked in the aerospace and defense industry staring with the Sidewinder missile for a subsidy of Hughes Aircraft and ending with a division of General Motors on the LRV project (Lunar Roving Vehicle). Jerry now being married and having his first child (three more would follow) found the unstable nature of the industry not good. As providence would have it in time Jerry became the Crime Analyst for the Santa Barbara Police Department, which he would retire from in 1999.

Jerry continued to serve Jesus in both church leadership roles and the community youth in scouting positions and with AYSO to name a few. It was in 1984 that Jerry's concern about the direction and influence of surfing on youth (especially his oldest son) that he responded to God's calling to help found what is now CSUS

Jerry today continues with his commitment to youth as a high school teacher in the Big Beach city of Sierra Vista, Arizona (flat waves) and to God as a member of CSUS board of directors.