Community Gathered Friday For Weight-Room Dedication Ceremony At Haines City High

HAINES CITY, FL — The Haines City High School staff officially named its weight room Friday after a recently retired coach who dedicated about 40 years to the campus' student-athletes, a Polk County Public Schools news release said.

Coach Olin Gee started teaching and coaching at Haines City High in 1985. He coached multiple sports such as weightlifting and football. School staff said he showed characteristics of a strong leader and mentor in the classroom and in coaching.

According to a news release, throughout Gee's coaching career several players were recruited by NFL teams after they graduated.

During Friday's dedication ceremony, friends and family of Gee were in attendance to witness HCHS officially dedicate the Coach Olin Gee Weight Room.

A former student, Bonnie Salary, who took Gee's weightlifting class while in high school, helped organize the event. Salary works as the head of HCSHS' physical education department.

“Coach Gee helped break me out of my shy shell," Salary said. "I was eventually pressing 185 pounds on the bench while gaining respect from the boys in class. I later became his colleague, where I got to see how deep his love for his students truly ran.”

Gee retired from HCHS in January 2021.