Gary Forby (born January 4, 1945) is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 59th District since June 2003. The Southern Illinois includes all or parts of the cities of Benton, Carbondale, Cairo, Carterville, Golconda, Harrisburg, McLeansboro, Marion, and Vienna.He was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2001 to 2003 before being appointed to fill former State Senator Larry Woolard’s vacant seat in 2003.