American Water Ski Educational Foundation Award of Distinction 2009
Inducted into the Florida Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame 2008
Charles “Chuck” Dees of Lakeland has more than 40 years of coaching experience. He has been instrumental in training and coaching many national and world champions including Frankie Dees, Sammy Duvall, Camille Duvall, Tory Baggiano, Scot Ellis and Mike Meek, just to name a few. Chuck and his family operated one of the first water ski schools in the nation starting in the early 1960s. They had a school on Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, Fla., during the fall through spring months and then also had a school in Montgomery, Ala., during the summer months. During the winter months he was the primary towboat driver for the Lakeland Water Ski Club’s winter show season and his family also skied in the show. He was a driving force in the ski club and water skiing for many years. He has retired from active coaching and only coaches his son, Frankie, as well as his grandchildren.