As a military brat, Dee was born in Arizona, and lived in Germany and Colorado prior to settling in Memphis, Tennessee. Dee was forever

a hard worker and never believed in just being ordinary. His passion for work and need to contribute led him to enlist in the Army in

January of 2004, as a Combat Medic. Following his training, he was stationed at the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York,

deploying twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Dee served honorably as a medic before separating in 2010.

His ultimate goal was to become a commissioned officer in the Army and that goal was accomplished in 2014, when he was a ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate from St. Martin's University, commissioning as a field artillery officer.

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With a cancer diagnosis, he was retired from the Army in 2015. Dee never faltered despite having cancer, and even though he could no

longer serve his country, with his servitude personality. He began serving his community. Dee's love of teaching and preparing children for

success  led him to become a youth track and field coach. He coached various athletes at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Storm Track

Club, Heathwood Hall, the El Paso Panthers Track Club and North Hardin High School. His passion for working with young athletes

inspired many for generations to come. His athletes forever remember him as one of the most compassionate coaches who never let them

quit on themselves. 

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As a humble man with the gift of servitude, he further committed himself to service through his fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. A

creative soul, he was gifted at producing music - a hobby he enjoyed throughout the years. He would always say, "music is the language

of love and windows to the soul".

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Dee always will be remembered as an exceptional father of five girls, a loving husband, a caring son, brother, and uncle, a die-hard

Tennessee Titans fan, and a faithful man of God. Words never could express the impact he had on the people he encountered.

 

What stood out the most about Coach Dee was that he didn't just coach children for performance on the field. He coached children for life.

Helping children to understand and reach their potential. Helping them with personal skills like resilience, overcoming failure  and

collaboration and sharing. 

 

Dee passed away December 22, 2018, after nearly a five- year battle with colorectal cancer. Dee fought cancer with dignity, and

he never allowed his illness  to stop him from doing what he loved. Developing unique athletic skills to young athletes, helping them to

realize their potential and coaching them to victories.  

 

Dee's Dreams 0213 Organization was founded in his memory, with the intent of providing basic survival needs to children in underserved communities wherever they are, and to lead, motivate, and encourage them to successful, healthy life styles.