Raymond Gary graduated from Madill High School and earned a Bachelor of Science from Southeastern State College. He began his career as a teacher before being elected as the Marshall County Superintendent of Schools. Gary founded Gary Manufacturing Company and later expanded his business interests to include Sooner Oil Company and a large ranch. His leadership extended to the Oklahoma Senate, where he chaired the appropriations committee and served as president pro tempore. As governor, he balanced state budgets without tax increases or significant spending hikes and championed infrastructure improvements, including the integration of the state's highway system.

Raymond Gary's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of fiscal conservatism and progressive civil rights advocacy. He balanced tight state budgets with significant infrastructure investments, notably in highway systems. His approach to civil rights reveals a principled yet calculated stance, dismantling segregation laws and integrating schools while avoiding the violent confrontations seen elsewhere. This juxtaposition of restrained fiscal policy with bold civil rights action suggests a nuanced, strategic political philosophy.