Garner A. Palenske and his family live in San Diego, California. A native Californian, he grew up exploring the mining camps of the Mojave Desert. Mr. Palenske earned bachelor degrees in both engineering and business from California State University, Fullerton. He works as a vice president of a consulting engineering firm and has worked on many historical building restorations. An accomplished researcher, Mr. Palenske has published several engineering research projects.

Palenske is a member of the Wild West History Association and the San Diego History Center. He is also serves as historian for the First San Diego Court House Museum in Old Town San Diego.