Ralph William "Gus" Gallini was born January 14, 1941, and grew up in Littlefield, Texas. He attended West Texas State University, now West Texas A&M, earning a BBA in Business Administration. He joined the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam from February to November 1965 as a 1st lieutenant serving in Da Nang and the Monkey Mountain area. He was in the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (LAAM), 1st Marine Air Wing as a HAWK Missile officer and advisor to the Air Force Air DefenseBattle Commander. While in Vietnam he earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Military Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He eventually left the Marines at the rank of major. In 1968 he continued his education at Texas Tech University, earning his JD in 1970. He is married to Marilyn June Rosson Gallini and has eight children: Melanie Gallini Pratt, John C. "Kit" Gallini, Paul W. Gallini, James R. Gallini, Deana Lynn Steed Gallini, ThomasJ. Gallini, S. Jason Gallini, and Jared L. Gallini.