Chamber remembers Gerry Bing

Around lunchtime most weekdays you could find Gerry Bing’s distinctive yellow El Camino parked at the Carson Valley Country Club.

The owner of Bing Materials and one of Douglas County’s most influential residents died early Wednesday morning, the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce announced.

“Our hearts go out to his family and friends as they grieve the loss of a great leader, mentor and friend,” Chamber Director Alicia Main said. “His absence will be palpable. He has had a profound impact on the Valley, and we all have some big shoes to fill.”

Bing served as president of the chamber for five years, 1975-1977 and 1986-1989.

“His contributions and institutional knowledge was so valuable he held a special position as Chamber of Commerce Director Emeritus, a lifetime appointment to the board,” Main said. “Even through the COVID shutdown, Gerry made every meeting and continued to provide valuable input and leadership to his fellow board members.”

Bing moved to Carson Valley in 1963 establishing a materials pit in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

He was named Nevada’s Small Business Champion of the Year in 2005 by the National Federation of independent Business and Elks Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Bing was a lifetime member of the Elks. A graduate of Stanford, he was a U.S. Marine.

In addition to the chamber, he served on the boards of the Douglas County Republican Central Committee, Town of Minden and the Douglas County Building Industry Association.